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The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority has submitted a project proposal to provincial and federal regulatory agencies seeking
approval to upgrade the berms currently in place at Fishing Lake to permanent status. A copy of the project proposal can be viewed below.
These emergency berms were originally constructed in the fall of 2007 on a temporary basis to help remove water from in and around the homes
and cabins at the lake prior to winter freeze-up. Under the conditions of the permit issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, these berms were
required to be removed by October 2009. To facilitate the review of the project proposal, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has now extended the permit
for the temporary berms to October 2010.
Since the emergency berms were constructed, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing and the Saskatchewan
Watershed Authority have been working with local communities to develop long-term flood protection plans. Each community that currently has
a berm in place has requested that the berm become a permanent part of their flood protection plans, and have asked the Watershed Authority
to seek authorization to permanently retain them.
Permanently retaining the berms requires the approval of several federal and provincial regulatory agencies, including Fisheries and Oceans
Canada and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. Earlier this year, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority contracted the services of two
consulting firms to help prepare a project proposal to those regulatory agencies.
MDH Engineering Solutions was contracted to determine what needs to be done to make the berms suitable as permanent structures, including any
requirements that may be stipulated by the regulatory agencies in their approval for the project. This work may involve such steps as shaping
the berms and adding erosion protection where needed.
KGS Group was contracted to gather the detailed information that the regulatory agencies require to evaluate the proposal. That included
documenting any environmental impacts from the project and proposing options to mitigate those impacts.
Now that the project proposal has been submitted, the federal and provincial regulatory agencies involved will review it and determine whether
it should be approved. If the environmental implications of the project are deemed to be significant, the regulatory agencies may determine that
a full environmental assessment is required prior to approval. Once all of the necessary approvals and permits have been obtained, the Saskatchewan
Watershed Authority will carry out the work needed to finalize the berms. Again, this work would include any requirements stipulated by the regulatory
agencies when they issue their approval for the project.
Water begins spilling out of Fishing Lake when it exceeds an elevation of 529.74 metres. Water levels reached a peak of 530.60 metres in 2007.
The communities with berms in place are protected to an elevation of 531.60 metres. As of winter freeze-up, water levels at Fishing Lake were at
an elevation of approximately 529.80 metres.
In November 2008, the Authority also completed an assessment of agricultural drainage in the Waldsea, Deadmoose, Houghton and Fishing Lake basins.
Drainage was identified as one contributing factor to the high water levels and flooding experienced at each of these lakes in 2007. The assessment
thoroughly examines the impact of wetland drainage on water levels at Fishing Lake, and outlines options for mitigating these impacts.
During meetings held in November 2008 to discuss the findings of the assessment and the options for mitigating drainage impacts, representatives
from the Fishing Lake area clearly stated that confirming whether the berms could remain permanently in place was their top priority, and deferred
recommending any of the options for mitigating drainage impacts until that decision was made. Once the future status of the berms has been confirmed,
additional action may be taken to address drainage impacts within the basin.
A copy of the drainage assessment, as well as a summary of the findings specific to Fishing Lake, is available here. The drainage moratorium for
the Fishing Lake basin that has been in place since June 13th, 2007, remains in effect.
For more information on long-term flood protection planning at Fishing Lake, please contact the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority in Yorkton at
(306) 786-1490.
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Advisories