Qu’Appelle River Watershed Updates
Summary of watershed condition and operation plan
- All winter operations in the system have been completed, even though winter arrived slightly later this year.
- Most lakes in the Qu’Appelle system are within or near their target fall operating ranges.
- Water levels in both Echo and Crooked Lakes are slightly lower than in normal years.
Buffalo Pound Lake
- The Qu’Appelle River Dam release is 2.1 m3/s, which is the normal winter release.
- There is currently 0.5 m3/s outflow from Buffalo Pound Dam. The fishway was closed for winter on October 30.
- Buffalo Pound Lake is at 509.36 m this morning, which is 4 cm above the top of the fall/winter operating range (509.32 m).
Wascana Lake
- The water level of Wascana Lake at the Marina is at 570.55 m this morning, which is 3 cm above its target operating level of 570.52 m.
- No further operations are planned over the winter at this time.
Craven – Last Mountain Lake
- Last Mountain Lake is currently at 489.94 m, which is at the upper limit of its operating range.
- Qu’Appelle River near Lumsden is about 1.9 m3/s
- Flow from the Craven Control structure: 1.1 m3/s
- The fishway was closed and the winter outflow was set at the Craven Control Structure on October 30.
Pasqua – Echo Lake
- Pasqua and Echo lakes are currently at 478.46 m, which is 8 cm above the bottom of the November operating range (478.38 m).
- All stoplogs were removed from the control structure during the three operations that began on September 18. Water levels are slightly lower than normal for this time of year.
Mission – Katepwa Lake
- Mission and Katepwa lakes are currently at 478.3 m, which is 8 cm above the crest of the weir (478.22 m).
- The current water levels are normal for these lakes at this time of year and are expected to be maintained over the winter.
Crooked Lake
- Inflows to Crooked Lake are about 5.2 m3/s.
- The water level at Crooked Lake is at 450.85 m this morning, which is 25 cm below the bottom of the November operating range (451.10 m).
- All winter operations at the Crooked Lake control structure were completed in October, and the lake level is slightly lower than normal.
Round Lake
- The water level of Round Lake is 441.88 m, which is within the normal range for this lake at this time of year.
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