The Water Security Agency is opening the Gardiner Dam spillway to manage rising water levels on the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon.
This move is critical for flood mitigation as incoming precipitation and melt increase the volume of water moving through the region. The agency said Wednesday, June 5, it made the decision to prevent uncontrolled flooding as river levels climb.
The opening of the spillway marks the first time this measure has been used since 2020 [1]. This action will increase the river flow, moving from about 260 cubic metres per second to roughly 700 cubic metres per second [1].
Officials said these increased flows are expected to raise the Saskatoon waterline by over half a metre [2]. This projection indicates the river will reach its highest level in six years [1].
The agency is monitoring the situation as the water moves downstream. The increase in volume is a direct result of seasonal melt and recent precipitation patterns that have stressed the river system's capacity, necessitating the use of the dam's spillway to regulate the flow.
Residents near the riverbanks are advised to remain aware of the rising waterline in the coming days. The Water Security Agency said it continues to coordinate the release of water to balance the need for reservoir stability, and the safety of downstream urban infrastructure [1, 2].
“The river will reach its highest level in six years.”
The decision to open the spillway reflects a necessary trade-off in water management. By intentionally increasing the flow now, the Water Security Agency aims to prevent a more catastrophic, uncontrolled release of water later. The projected waterline rise is a significant hydrological event for Saskatoon, testing the city's current flood mitigation infrastructure against the highest volumes seen since 2020.
