Approximately $1.5 million will be spent on the Lac La Ronge Dam in 2022. (Submitted photo/Water Security Agency)

By Derek Cornet

spring runoff

Flooding on Lac La Ronge not expected this summer as dam work continues

Apr 25, 2022 | 3:06 PM

The large volume of snow that fell in the Lac La Ronge region isn’t expected to lead to flooding as it did in the summer of 2020.

That’s according to information provided to La Ronge council by the Water Security Agency (WSA), which states forecasters believe the lake will likely peak from the current 364.24 metres above sea level to higher than 364.4 metres in the coming months. It’s not predicted, however, to reach upward to 365 metres as it did two years ago due to spring run off.

“Widespread spring/summer rains across the La Ronge drainage basin tend to influence water levels on the lake more significantly than spring runoff,” the letter to council states. “Forecasting is not exact and is subject to change. WSA cannot guarantee there will be no flooding.”

Spring runoff in the La Ronge area to Southend and Buffalo Narrows is expected to be above normal. The WSA expects the area to stay within that range unless conditions change dramatically due to rapidly warmer temperatures.

The operating range for Lac La Ronge is 364.1 m to 364.4 m and WSA plans to have the lake at the bottom of that range this summer to facilitate ongoing maintenance and upgrade work at the Lac La Ronge Dam. The dam is currently 100 per cent open, but operations at the structure will be ramped down from full open as conditions throughout the open water season dictate.

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“WSA actively monitors lake levels, discharge rates from the dam, and flows into the lake on the Montreal River via real-time hydrometric stations,” the letter notes. “The lake also receives water from several smaller systems that are not monitored, including Nemeiben Lake.”

The high volumes of water caused concerns at the Montreal River in August 2020. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By October 2021, Lac La Ronge had dropped one metre. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

The WSA is expected to spend $1.5 million on the Lac La Ronge Dam in 2022. Work occurred at the dam throughout the summer and fall in 2021.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno