With Boundary Dam seemingly under control, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority is now focusing its attention on Rafferty Dam.
The SWA issued an advisory informing the public that releases from Boundary Dam were reduced over the weekend and that flows decreased downstream on the Souris River. However, the river is expected to rise again this week as releases begin from Rafferty Dam. The report noted that over the next two weeks the flows are expected to be ramped up to 55 to 60 cubic metres per second and will remain at that level for most of May.
The SWA was quick to quell fears that another round of flooding could be on the way though, noting the releases "will be contained within the Souris River channel."
In a conference call Monday, John Fahlman, the acting director of basin operations for the Watershed Authority, said the levels in Boundary Dam are now at a much more manageable level which has allowed them to closer match inflows with diversions to Rafferty.
"As of (Monday) morning we have stopped releasing any water out of Boundary and we have removed that release over to Rafferty to get rid of some of the flood surcharge there," said Fahlman. "We are releasing at 40 m3/s out of Rafferty. The idea is to get the flood surcharge out of that reservoir as quickly as we can."
Now that the flood waters have receded along the Souris River, the next step is to assess the damage.
The hardest hit area was the Woodlawn Regional Park where a significant portion of the campground was flooded. The waters also invaded Rotary Park and entered the hall, which is a popular spot for events throughout the summer.
RM of Estevan administrator Greg Hoffort said although they have some cleanup ahead of them, the damage to the park was not as bad as initially feared.
"The low spots are still full of water so there will be some pumping restoration work there," Hoffort said. "We were fortunate in that Doug Third Hall, the water remained a few inches away from getting in. Rotary Hall, the water did just get high enough to cover the floor but that will be, we think, a quick cleanup process.
"One of the two washrooms in the main park took on a lot of water. Other than that there is river mud all over the park that is going to have to be dealt with and general cleanup branches and twigs and lumber and debris everywhere but nothing that is going to keep up closed for months."
Hoffort said the RM will also have some clean-up work elsewhere in the municipality.
"We had a brand new bridge installed early in the spring and the ramps to that have been compromised and in one instance washed away," he said. We cut the Shand road so there will be some restoration there getting that road back to travelable. We were proactive and did a lot of bridge clearing and had the track hoes go in and do some clearing out of logs and debris away so there will be some expense there."
Although it is a City of Estevan road, Hoffort noted Fourth Avenue suffered heavy damage during the flood as hundreds of curious onlookers made their way to the Woodlawn area to view the flood.
