Lenore Lake Basin Water Levels

The Lenore Lake Basin is a closed basin with no natural outlets. Burton Lake and St. Brieux Lake are two freshwater lakes in the basin, but all the others, including Lenore, are saline. Lenore is less saline than Houghton or Deadmoose.

Three years of above normal precipitation has caused water levels in the Lenore Lake basin to rise to near or above historically recorded peaks. Because of this high water level, Houghton Lake which is more saline than Lenore, is beginning to spill into Lenore Lake. The total amount of inflow from Houghton will be less than 1 percent of the volume of water in Lenore Lake.

A public information meeting was held in Lake Lenore on April 15th. It was attended by 163 local residents. Information was presented on the hydrology and water quality of the area. At the meeting, residents expressed interest in forming a working group to try and resolve the diversity of issues regarding the lake, and reach consensus on a path forward. The Authority will work with community leaders to form such a group.

Water Quality of Lenore Lake

Flows Between the Lakes

• On May 8th, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority learned that Fisheries and Oceans Canada had ordered the Rural Municipality of Three Lakes to prevent further water flow under grid road 777 from Houghton Lake toward Lake Lenore.
• The Fisheries and Oceans Canada order will result in higher water levels in Deadmoose and Houghton Lakes and will likely cause increased flooding around these lakes.
• The concentration of salts within Lenore Lake for 2008 is expected to remain similar to 2007 levels which are below historic values.

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Lenore Lake Basin advertisement - May 14th-16th

Lenore Lake Basin advertisement - May 21st-23rd

View the Water Quality Monitoring and Analysis presentation from the April 15 Public Information Meeting held in Lake Lenore.

View flood Hydrology of the Lenore Lake Basin presentation from the April 15 Public Information Meeting held in Lake Lenore.

Visit Response to High Water Levels presentation from the April 15 Public Information Meeting held in Lake Lenore.

Summary of the Effects of Total Dissolved Solids on Fish and Fish Habitat

In spring 2010 Watershed Authority reviewed the potential impact of increasing salinity on the Lenore Lake aquatic community due to inflows from Houghton Lake. Three potential scenarios were identified and potential impacts on aquatic life assessed.