Unsafe ice warning ahead of outflow increase at Alameda Reservoir

The Water Security Agency is warning the public about the possibility of unsafe ice surfaces from increased outflow at the Alameda Reservoir this week.

Increased flow from the reservoir could make ice unsafe on Moose Mountain Creek below Alameda Dam, and on the Souris River downstream of Oxbow, Sask.

• Saskatchewan studying safety at Alameda dam

Ice cover on the reservoir itself will also be reduced, affecting ice that was previously safe.

The WSA said it was releasing water from the Alameda Reservoir to make additional storage available as a precaution before spring runoff.

It said the extra storagecould be needed due to a combination of wet soil moisture conditions and higher-than-normal snowfall above the reservoir.

Outflows from the reservoir, which is about 250 kilometres southeast of Regina, willincrease this week from 1.3 cubic metres per second to 2.0 cubic metres per second. Further increases are possible over the coming weeks.

The Ministry of Environment recommendsthe following ice thickness levels when crossing a water body:

• At least four inches (10 centimetres) thick to walk on
• Six inches (15 centimetres) to drive a snowmobile or ATV
• Eight inches (20 centimetres) for a car or light truck
• 12 inches (30 centimetres) for a heavy truck