By paNOW

Lakeland area water levels among highest on record

Jul 9, 2014 | 10:42 AM

The Water Security Agency (WSA) is advising the public to be careful of the higher lake levels around Emma and Christopher Lakes.

“The above normal precipitation this year has pushed the lakes above their normal operating range and to some of the highest levels we’ve seen on record,” said Patrick Boyle from the WSA.

Emma Lake is around 47 centimetres higher and Christopher Lake is around 31 centimetres above normal – the amount of rain in the area and the rest of the province is 150 to 200 per cent higher than usual in the last month, said Boyle.

Residents living near the shorelines are using sandbags provided by the province to help eliminate waves and erosion of their property, according to Dave Dmytruk, administrator for the Rural Municipality of Lakeland.

“We have drainage systems in place for handling most of the water levels,” said Dmytruk. “However, if we get a significant amount [of rain], it sometimes does exceed our capabilities for sure.”

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The lakes are collection areas for all the water, including from the nearby forest. Some of the water runs through residential properties, causing grief, said Dmytruk.

“The water tables are such that some of the crawlspaces are filling with water and the sump pumps are going. If we get some dry weather, certainly that will help alleviate some problems for sure.”

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