Flow in Waskesiu River Fluctuating - Dam Height Elevated
Prince Albert National Park of Canada, Saskatchewan, October 7, 2004

PANP and Fisheries and Oceans Canada met yesterday to discuss next steps regarding the Waskesiu River dam and riffle. It appears that PANP was too aggressive in storing water in September (we had too many bays of the dam closed). While the flow was over .25 cubic metres per second, we did stored more than 20% of the flow, something we agreed that we would not do (see more info about the role of Waskesiu River dam for more information).

Having only one bay (Bay #2) open, has an impact on fish habitat downstream. As per Fisheries and Oceans Canada requirements, the park must prevent any damage to the fish population and habitat downstream of Waskesiu Dam.

As a compromise, Parks Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada have agreed
that:
1) the sill level (the lowest level of the bay, Bay #2, in which water is flowing through in the dam) will not change - this means all logs that were added over the summer remain
2) a second bay (Bay #3) was lowered today to the same height of Bay #2 - this means that two bays will hold water back (Bays #1 and #4, the outer bays), and water will flow through two bays (Bays #2 and #3, the middle bays)

The lake level will not go lower than it would have if water were flowing through only one bay. Opening the second bay will allow for a quick release of the current volume of water above the natural outlet. This quicker release provides a latent energy (warmer and moving water) to the river downstream and is considered better for the fish habitat downstream by delaying the freezing of the shallow water bodies downstream.

The dam is only holding water 6 cm above the downstream water level (which is more due to the flow restriction at the dam). The current height of Bays #2 and #3 is very close to the natural outlet level for the lake. Lake levels that we are experiencing today would be similar with a natural outlet.

Next steps:
Over the winter, we will complete the environmental assessment (EA). Fisheries and Parks Canada will work together on an aggressive water storage program for the spring to be included in this EA. An aggressive water storage program would mean storing more water faster.

We expect, in consultation with Fisheries, that the Waskesiu River dam will function now through the 2005 spring/summer season. We anticipate that the riffle will be completed in autumn 2005.

Prince Albert National Park of Canada, Saskatchewan, September 27, 2004
To date, the height of the dam was increased on four occasions (August 31, September 3, September 5, and September 14 for a total of 6 inches), plus the initial three inches that were added this spring before reaching the natural outflow level.

To achieve objectives for downstream water flow in the Waskesiu River while maintaining water in Waskesiu Lake; the park is collaborating with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) regarding the best approach to measuring flow over the dam and increases in the height of the dam. Over the spring/summer, this measurement was based on volume over the dam. With the
increases in height of the dam and reduction in depth of water over the dam, the water volume meter no longer functions properly. Consequently and in consultation with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the method of measuring must be changed.

Water storage will now be monitored in Waskesiu Lake. A third tab, 'water level' was added to the attached spreadsheet. To estimate the total water storage in the lake, a seven day average lake level will be used. If a seven day measure is found to be greater than the average from the previous seven days, we will be allowed to retain 20% of the total volume change. If there is a
sufficient increase, we would add one stop log (4.5 inches).

Since there are fewer people in the park the sign at the Waskesiu River dam will be removed.

Read more about the role of Waskesiu River dam

Waskesiu and Kingsmere Lake Levels