High-level advisory for the North Saskatchewan River

A high stream advisory is in place for the North Saskatchewan River near the City of Prince Albert.

The river will begin to swell over the coming days, with peak flow expected on Wednesday, June 28 and 29, 2023, at 1100-1200 m3/s. Typical flows are between 200-300 m 3/s.

^{Graph from Water Security Agency website.}

Residents are advised to:

• Stay out of the water
• Stay away from low-lying areas until the water recedes.
• Refrain from allowing pets near the river.
• Keep watercraft off the river due to fast-moving water and excessive debris.

These increased flows are expected to result in the river rising approximately 2 meters (6.5 feet). For up-to-date information and more, please visit the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency website at www.wsask.ca and, more specifically, for the river levels in Prince Albert: bit.ly/3XIgwr7

The debris seen on the river is called stream foam/froth. Naturally occurring stream foam/froth is formed by dissolved organic matter (DOC). DOC results from the breakdown of organic debris, such as sticks, leaves, tannins and watershed soils that hold organic materials. In a stream, DOC acts as a surfactant reducing the surface tension of water. DOC interacting with the moving water causes tiny air bubbles to form, creating an area of lower surface tension. Hence, water subsequently flows away from that spot and foam can stabilize there. Natural foam build-up is more prevalent in streams and rivers after rainfall because more water is moving through the ground, and more organic matter is being dissolved. With higher water, more turbulent conditions form bubbles, and the DOC attaches to these, forming foam at the surface.

Due to the increase in the river flow, the Water Treatment Plant Operational staff is frequently monitoring the incoming raw river water quality and is making necessary adjustments in the treatment processes to ensure the residents continue to get high-quality water.

For more information, please contact

Kris Olsen
Fire Chief
Prince Albert Fire Department
P: 306.953.4200