A sizeable spring runoff in southwestern Saskatchewan has improved the outlook for Lake Diefenbaker this summer.
According to the Water Security Agency (WSA), when compared to last year at this time, the levels are up over a metre.
This is significant news as the water level during the spring of 2022 prevented boats from being launched and irrigation was unavailable for some producers in the area.
"With a healthy runoff, we have seen those levels come up," Sean Osmar, the manager of communications with the WSA said. "Which is good news for the lake and the communities around there. As it stands right now levels are pretty good at Diefenbaker."
What helped alleviate those issues last year was a considerable runoff from the alpine snowpack that reached southwestern Saskatchewan's largest body of water in late June and early July. That extra boost this year is expected to arrive in late May or early June.
"This year is leaner than last year," he said. "We will keep an eye on it as it develops. It shouldn't have as big of an impact as it did last year."
The recent warm and dry conditions in the southwest will play a factor in water levels as the season goes on. Heavy rainfalls in Alberta and Saskatchewan would be optimal for the lake Osmar believes.
"Diefenbaker is funny in a way that it's fed almost entirely out of Alberta through the basins there in southern Alberta," he said. "We're going to continue to watch conditions develop in southern Alberta and see how they travel across the province into Saskatchewan to watch our levels."