The CPR Dam was seriously damaged by ice this spring
The flood situation is finally over in Moose Jaw and the local river is back within its banks today.
Earlier this month, the river breeched its banks because of ice jams. A week later, the water poured over the banks again when more runoff entered the system from upstream, flooding Wakamow Valley.
City Clerk Myron Gulka-Tiechko says they are now moving in to try and restore things to the way they were. "The city is taking down the sandbags and taking them to the City Yards and basically tidying things up. We don't need the sandbags any more and that danger has now passed."
It's going to take a while before the park and the neighbourhoods affected start looking like they did last summer. The city is still assessing all of the damage as they prepare to apply for disaster funding from the province. So far what we do know is that the concrete foundation for the Sioux Bridge was been damaged because of ice and a portion of the CPR Dam was turned into scrap after it was hammered by ice the size of cars.
Gulka-Tiechko says engineers are taking a close look at different structures to find out exactly what needs to be fixed and said it was too early to comment on whether or not the dam needed to be completely replaced.
While 15 communities have declared a state of emergency because of the flooding, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority says there is a ray of sunshine.
With most of the winter snow gone and the majority of the runoff now in the water system, officials believe the flood cycle is coming to an end. However, it's going to take days, if not weeks for some communities to notice a difference because local lakes and rivers are so high.
The SWA says runoff records have been set across the province and we'll be comparing future floods to 2011 instead of 1974.
Earlier this month, the river breeched its banks because of ice jams. A week later, the water poured over the banks again when more runoff entered the system from upstream, flooding Wakamow Valley.
City Clerk Myron Gulka-Tiechko says they are now moving in to try and restore things to the way they were. "The city is taking down the sandbags and taking them to the City Yards and basically tidying things up. We don't need the sandbags any more and that danger has now passed."
It's going to take a while before the park and the neighbourhoods affected start looking like they did last summer. The city is still assessing all of the damage as they prepare to apply for disaster funding from the province. So far what we do know is that the concrete foundation for the Sioux Bridge was been damaged because of ice and a portion of the CPR Dam was turned into scrap after it was hammered by ice the size of cars.
Gulka-Tiechko says engineers are taking a close look at different structures to find out exactly what needs to be fixed and said it was too early to comment on whether or not the dam needed to be completely replaced.
While 15 communities have declared a state of emergency because of the flooding, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority says there is a ray of sunshine.
With most of the winter snow gone and the majority of the runoff now in the water system, officials believe the flood cycle is coming to an end. However, it's going to take days, if not weeks for some communities to notice a difference because local lakes and rivers are so high.
The SWA says runoff records have been set across the province and we'll be comparing future floods to 2011 instead of 1974.
Sat, Apr 20, 8:15 AM
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