The water level of Lac La Ronge and the Montreal River are much lower than in 2020. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

water level

Lac La Ronge drops one metre since height of 2020 flooding event

Oct 28, 2021 | 12:53 PM

Lac La Ronge has dropped by one metre since reaching an almost record peak in 2020.

Lac La Ronge is currently sitting at 364 metres above sea level, which is a one metre difference from its peak of 394.96 metres in August 2020. Water Security Agency (WSA) president Shawn Jaques explained the lake was drawn down to near the bottom of its operating range to facilitate reconstruction work at the Lac La Ronge Dam.

Work at the dam includes structural upgrades, including strengthening the control structure and adding a modern steel structure over the spillway to install and remove stoplogs, along with seepage remediation. Jaques noted $2.7 million has been spent on the dam since 2017 with another $1.5 million earmarked for 2022.

“We want to maintain it around the current level,” he said of the water level. “There’s a good chance if we have higher amounts of snow in the winter, it could increase the lake level through the spring, but it’s really too early. It depends on what happens with the weather over the coming months.”

Jaques called the Lac La Ronge Dam, which is located at the northeast section of the lake, a significant piece of infrastructure in northern Saskatchewan. He said if the dam wasn’t present, the water level of the lake would be considerably lower and cause issues for both residents and the commercial fishing industry.

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With higher water in 2020, RCMP were warning swimmers to stay out of the Montreal River. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Sandbags were placed at the Lac La Ronge Dam in 2020 as a precaution against dam failure. (Submitted photo/Water Security Agency))

Boat launches, beaches and other public infrastructure experienced flooding last year. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

This graph shows Lac La Ronge reaching its peak in 2020, along with data from historical flooding events. (Submitted chart/Water Security Agency)

“At WSA, we’re investing a fair bit of money in that reconstruction to make sure it’s safe,” Jaques said. “We’re about 50 per cent done the work and we will start again next spring.”

Lac La Ronge is currently sitting at a desirable operating level and is slightly above the 30-year average.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @saskjourno