Province looks at draining lake to ease flooding

The province is looking at draining a lake in east-central Saskatchewan to ease flooding.

Water levels on the Quill Lakes have risen more than six metres over the past 10 years, flooding farms, highways and railways in the area.

Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency is proposing to drain Kutawagan Lake into Last Mountain Lake. The water would make its way down to the Qu’Appelle Valley and into Manitoba.

Kutawagan Lake currently drains into the Quill Lakes, and the proposal would see the river connecting them blocked and a new one built. The agency studied several different options, and says this one is the best.

But there were plenty of critics at the first in a series of open houses on the proposal. Last Mountain is a resort lake dependent on fishing, and there are fears the plan will lead to increased salt levels. Officials hope to put the diversion in place before spring, but many are calling for a delay and more study.

While draining Kutawagan Lake would save highways and railways in the area, some say there’s little proof that it will prevent flooding on farmland.

Based on a report by CTV Regina’s Dale Hunter