An uncomfortable amount of snow remains in the Souris River Basin above Lake Darling. That was the assessment released Thursday by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency.

In a Spring Runoff Forecast issued by the WSA under the title of “Above Normal Flows a Concern in South East Saskatchewan,” the agency cites heavy snowpack located below Rafferty and Alameda Reservoirs and near the Manitoba border” as an area of concern.

“This is also an area that was wetter than normal at freeze-up in 2016. Unless conditions are favorable leading up to and during the spring melt, well above normal flows are expected,” says the forecast.

Earlier snowmelt projections issued by the National Weather Service and the WSA point to above average runoff into Lake Darling with a very low potential for producing any high water problems with the possible exception of points downstream on the Souris where the river enters Manitoba.

The latest WSA forecast adds, “The recent snowstorm this week will slightly add to these areas but not have a major impact.”

Additionally, says the WSA, “significant flood damages are not expected unless conditions significantly change leading up to and/or during the spring melt.”

Boundary Reservoir near Estevan, which receives its water from Long Creek, is listed as a Saskatchewan Reservoir that has been operating at “below normal” levels. The WSA forecast says Boundary is expected to be replenished by snowmelt runoff. Overflow from Boundary can be diverted into nearby Rafferty Reservoir or released through an outlet that leads to the Souris River.

– Kim Fundingsland