Spring Runoff

Updated – May 13, 2026

 

Click here to read the full advisory.

With snowmelt complete in the south and nearly complete in central Saskatchewan, flows continue to recede in most major systems, with some exceptions. As runoff continues to recede, updates will be provided semi-regularly. 

Provisional hydrometric data indicates that some areas in central Saskatchewan observed record high flows post rapid spring snowmelt.  

In most east central areas, streamflows have peaked and receding, with many streams now near normal spring levels. At locations that experienced high flows last week, levels are generally approaching normal conditions. Though some may remain above normal for several days.  

The Meadow Lake area is expected to receive 20–40 mm of precipitation over the next few days, which may result in increased runoff and rising lake levels, with the magnitude of the increase depending on the total precipitation amounts and the location where the rainfall occurs. 

 Flows are continuing to steadily increase in northern Saskatchewan and are above normal in the upper portion of the Churchill River Basin. 

WSA has issued a high flow advisory on April 28. Click here to read more.

WSA issued an advisory on the potential for ice jamming along the North Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan rivers, and smaller systems within the currently impacted High Flows Advisory areas.

Click here for the full advisory

Note: Cloud cover is observed in central and northern areas.

Quill Lakes Basin 

• Flows on the northern tributaries (i.e., Romance Creek, Ironspring Creek, and Quill Creek) have significantly receded and returned to normal spring levels.   

• Southern tributary flows are near completion. 

• The Quill Lakes are close to their peak. The current elevation of Big Quill Lake is around 520.28 m, close to its peak while Little Quill is slightly lower at 520.15 m, leveling off. Big Quill Lake appears to be receiving most of the inflow. With above‑normal flows continuing in Ironspring Creek expected to continue over the next few days, water levels are anticipated to keep rising slightly. Although the lakes will tend to equalize over time, water levels are expected to stabilize at a level between the two elevations. 

 

Qu’Appelle River Basin 

In the Qu’Appelle River basin, flows are at near normal levels for most areas with the following exception. 

• Flows continue to decline from the record high peak flows observed at Lanigan Creek above Boulder Lake last week, but they remain high for this time of year. This will continue to add significant volumes to Last Mountain Lake in the coming days. The Craven Control structure will remain open to naturally pass these inflows downstream.  

 

Assiniboine River Basin 

• Flows continue to recede across all areas of the Assiniboine Basin, with a notable decline in streamflow over the past few days.  

• While the flows at Assiniboine River at Kamsack are declining, it continues to exceed the normal range for this time of the year. 

• The Fishing Lake and Good Spirit Lake elevations appear to be peaking at approximately 530.70 m and 485.43 m, respectively. 

 

Lake Winnipegosis Basin (Red Deer River, Swan River) 

• Flows in most areas of the Red Deer River Basin remain steady at or declining from higher-than-normal levels.  

• Flows continue to increase on the Overflowing River near Hudson Bay, Fir River near Hudson Bay, and Prairie River near Prairie River.  

• The Swan River is continuing to decline, remaining slightly below the long-term average for this time of year. 

 

Carrot River Basin 

• Flows continue to recede in most of the basin locations including Goosehunting Creek, Ranch Creek above Ranch Lake, Leather River, and Doghide River near Runciman, and Carrot River near Kinistino. They are generally close to their normal flows now, except at Carrot River near Kinistino, where the current flow is well above normal. 

• Flows continue to gradually rise at Carrot Rier near Turnberry. This trend is expected to continue as the high flow wave from upstream reaches the lower part of the basin. 

• Provisional data suggests that historical high flows have been observed at Carrot River near Armley and Carrot River near Smoky Burns.  

 

Saskatchewan River 

• The Saskatchewan River below the Forks started rising slowly.  

• Spills from EB Campbell have been stopped and Tobin Lake levels are stable near the FSL. Operations are intended to remain in 600-800 cms range after stopping spills. 

• Upstream of Cumberland Lake, the Torch and White Fox Rivers and tributaries have peaked last week. A couple of tributaries are having smaller secondary peaks.  

• Rain and some potential snow are expected tomorrow and Friday and rivers may respond by the weekend with some rises. 

• Cumberland Lake has shown a more gradual rise over the past days and is currently peaking at 266.77 m. 

 

Beaver River 

• The flows on the Beaver River at Dorintosh have started to gradually rise again after its recession from the peak. They are unlikely to surpass the previously observed peak. 

• Tributaries to the Beaver River are overall declining/receding, including the Makwa River, Morin Creek, and Alcott Creek.  

• Meadow River below Meadow Lake has stabilized and is holding near peak flow. 

• The Beaver River below Waterhen River is holding steady near its peak. 

• The level at Meadow Lake is also stabilizing near the peak. However, forecast rain in this area may contribute in the existing peak in the coming days. The current lake elevation is 475.13 m approximately. 

 

Churchill River 

• Flows are continuing to pick up in the basin. 

• Smoothstone River below Emmeline Lake is well-above normal range and continuing to gradually rise. 

• There is still snow in the basin and with warm temperatures forecasted, melt will continue to contribute to rising levels/flows. 

 

North Saskatchewan River Basin in SK (North Battleford, Prince Albert) 

• Flows on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert continue to slowly decline.  

• Upstream of Prince Albert, flows on tributaries to the North Saskatchewan River have returned to normal levels for this time of year. 

• Inflows to Anglin Lake in the Spruce River basin are currently rising as the remaining snow in the headwaters of the Spruce River Basin melts. Sturgeon River and Garden River continue to slowly decline from the high levels seen last week. With the warm temperatures seen over the past days, only a minimal snowpack remains in these tributaries. 

Wood River, Swift Current Creek, and Southwest (Consul, Maple Creek, and Swift Current)

• The snowmelt runoff response is now largely complete throughout the Southwest.
• Most tributaries responded during the spring runoff between well below normal to below normal flows.
• Water supply concerns remain in the Maple Creek area (Big Stick Lake Basin), as snowmelt runoff was not sufficient to increase the water supply in reservoirs to desirable levels.
• The runoff response has largely been completed and the snow received in the last precipitation event has nearly all melted.

Lake Diefenbaker (Saskatoon)

• Snow accumulation in most headwater areas in the mountains continues to be well above normal.
• With snowmelt inflow from the prairie portion of the South Saskatchewan River basin arriving at the reservoir, the Lake Diefenbaker water level is gradually increasing and is currently about 552.7 m. This level is between median and upper quartile levels for this time of year.
• The Gardiner Dam outflow will be maintained near 90 m3/s through the weekend. Releases will be increased next week, after the peak flows from the ice breakup on the North Saskatchewan River have passed through the system.
• Snow accumulation in most headwater areas in the mountains continues to be well above normal.

Qu’Appelle River (Moose Jaw, Regina, Broad View)

• Snowmelt is now largely complete in the basin, with the exception of the area north of Last Mountain Lake.
• Flows have generally been between near normal to above normal in the basin.
• Lanigan Creek Above Boulder Lake, the only tributary with snowpack remaining, is rising and is close to a 1 in 10-year flow frequency currently. Higher flows are expected with warm temperatures this weekend.
• Normal operations for the structures are continuing in the basin. Control structures are left open until the peak flow has moved through the system.
• Removal of stoplogs was not required at Wascana Lake this year and flows were managed through the sluice gates. With the Wascana Lake level close to the target elevation, the release was terminated April 27.

 

 

Note: These observations are based on a sparse hydrometric monitoring network with provisional available record and are subject to uncertainty.

 

Weather Conditions

No significant weather events are forecasted at this time.

 

Stream flow and water level data is collected at hydrometric gauging stations to monitor the current water resource conditions in Saskatchewan.

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