Qu’Appelle River Watershed Updates

Updated September 8, 2026

• Most of the lakes in the Qu’Appelle system are within their targeted summer operating ranges. In response to last week’s rainfall, lake levels have risen by approximately 0.04 m to 0.20 m.
• Significant rainfall occurred across the basin last week, with most of it falling on September 7. Totals ranged from about 20 mm to 110 mm, with rainfall accumulations heavier in the western portion of the basin and lighter in the east. The highest amount—approximately 110 mm—was recorded near Last Mountain Lake area.
• Last Mountain Lake is still high, sitting about 24 cm above the top of its fall operating range. The lake level rose over the weekend in response to the rainfall received, and the Craven structure remains fully open.

• Inflow to Buffalo Pound Lake is rising due to the recent rainfall events.
• The Qu’Appelle River Dam release is 5.8 m³/s, and it is expected to be reduced to 4 m³/s soon.
• Buffalo Pound Lake is at 509.55 m, which is 23 cm above the top of the fall operating range (509.32 m). The release will be increased from 2 m³/s to 3 m³/s to help slow the lake elevation rate of rise.

• The water level at the Wascana Lake Marina is 570.80 m, which is about 0.28 m above the required elevation. A release of 1.0 m³/s is being initiated today to draw the lake level down.
• Due to ongoing construction work, the City of Regina requested a target elevation of about 570.52 m for Wascana Lake, which is 7 cm below FSL

• Last Mountain Lake is currently at 490.30 m, which is 24 cm above the top of the fall operating range (490.06 m). The level rose following the recent rainfall events, but it is expected to gradually decline with the Craven Dam gates remaining fully open.
  • Outflow: about 5 m³/s to the Qu’Appelle River from Last Mountain Lake.
  • Qu’Appelle River near Lumsden is about 11 m³/s.
  • Release from the Craven Control structure: 16 m³/s.
• Inflow from the northern tributaries to Last Mountain Lake is about 2 m³/s following the recent rainfall systems.
• No operations are currently planned for this structure in the near future.

• Pasqua and Echo Lakes are currently at 479.00 m, which is the top of the fall operating range (478.99 m).
• Levels have been rising due to the recent rainfall but are expected to remain close to the top of the fall operating range before gradually receding. No operations are planned for this week.

• Mission and Katepwa lakes are currently at 478.36 m, which is 13 cm above the top of the fall operating range (478.23 m).
• The current release from the Katepwa Lake control structure is 8 m³/s. This release has helped draw Katepwa Lake down slightly and has supported maintaining levels at Crooked Lake.
• No operations are planned this week at Katepwa Lake.

• Inflow to Crooked Lake, as indicated by the Qu’Appelle River at Hyde gauge, is about 14 m³/s, which is well above normal for this time of year.
• The water level at Crooked Lake is 451.48 m, which is 23 cm below the top of the fall operating range (451.71 m). The level has been rising since September 3 due to the installation of stoplogs and recent rainfall in the basin. The Crooked Lake level is expected to continue increasing this week.

• Stop logs were installed late last week in the Crooked Lake control structure to help manage the lake level. Structural and operational constraints remain in effect at Crooked Lake.

• The water level of Round Lake is 442.1 m.
• Round Lake is currently within its operating range. The inability to operate the control structure means that the Round Lake depends entirely on inflow upstream Round.

Observed:

• • Significant and large scale rainfall occurred across the basin last week, with most of it falling on September 7. Totals ranged from about 20 mm to 110 mm, with heavier accumulations being received in the western portion of the basin and lighter accumulations in the east.
  • The highest amount—approximately 110 mm—was recorded near Last Mountain Lake area.

Forecast:

• • About 10-20 mm of rainfall is forecasted for the next 7 days across the basin.

Seven‑day total precipitation (mm) across the Qu’Appelle River Basin:

Forecasted total precipitation (in millimeters) for the upcoming seven days, based on the Canadian GEM model: