Low water levels and high sediment flow on the South Saskatchewan River are prompting ferry closures, altering Canada Day plans in Saskatoon, and raising new concerns about the health of one of the province’s most important water sources.
The Water Security Agency (WSA) confirmed this week that inflows from Alberta into Lake Diefenbaker, which feeds the South Saskatchewan River, are currently about half of the seasonal norm. While the reservoir remains above average for this time of year, mountain runoff is well below expected levels, and spring precipitation has been limited.
As a result, two provincial ferries — Estuary and Lancer — have been closed due to insufficient river depth. The Lemsford Ferry remains open to light loads only, while several other ferries across the province continue to operate normally.
In Saskatoon, the ongoing drought has forced organizers of the city's Canada Day celebrations to move fireworks off the river and onto land. Originally scheduled to launch from barges near the Broadway Bridge, the show will now take place in Rotary Park due to safety concerns linked to shallow water and unstable sediment.
“The conditions on the river just aren’t safe for staging fireworks or using watercraft,” organizers said in a news release Tuesday. “The water level and sediment load are too unpredictable.”
The WSA says it is carefully balancing outflows from Lake Diefenbaker at between 60 and 70 cubic metres per second, consistent with last year’s dry conditions, to ensure long-term water supply to 60 per cent of Saskatchewan’s population and to support agriculture, recreation, and hydroelectricity.
University of Saskatchewan hydrologist Dr. John Pomeroy says Alberta’s mountain snowpack — the source of roughly 80 per cent of the river’s water — is down about 70 per cent this year, fuelling concerns over prolonged drought conditions.
While some have called for higher dam releases to ease sediment build-up downstream, WSA officials warn this would only offer short-term relief, potentially harming fish habitats, eroding riverbanks, and risking critical water supply later in the season.
The agency says it is prepared to adjust flows if significant rainfall occurs, but remains focused on maintaining reservoir levels through what could be another hot and dry summer.
Saskatchewan residents are advised to monitor local ferry statuses and water advisories as conditions evolve.