Heavy rainfall prompts SaskPower emergency response at Island Falls Hydro Station

SaskPower says heavy rains in northern Saskatchewan has put the Island Falls Hydro Station in a heightened state of emergency preparedness.

In a release, SaskPower says due to high water levels on the Churchill River, the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA) is actively involved in making release plans throughout the river system.

As part of that effort, SaskPower says it is working closely with the WSA to release significant water from its spillway.

Unprecedented heavy rainfall in northern Saskatchewan has put SaskPower’s Island Falls Hydro Station in a heightened state of emergency preparedness. Find out more about the situation and what we’re doing to protect our equipment and residents at the link below.

— SaskPower (@SaskPower) July 15, 2020

SaskPower says the water levels are expected to remain at very high levels for the next month or longer.

Residents are being warned to stay away from the portage at the White Sand Dam. The area is currently not safe while water levels are high.

SaskPower says at this time, all collections and disconnections for non-payment have been suspended in the Sandy Bay and Pelican Narrows region.

It also says it has employees onsite 24/7 to monitor and respond to any problems there may be with water backing up into the station.

In 2005, record flooding occurred in the region and SaskPower says it anticipates meeting or exceeding those records.