Extensive spring floods have resulted in the closure of more than a dozen roads in the province, leading to the displacement of some individuals and leaving approximately 19 people stranded near Struthers Lake Regional Park.
A nine-foot culvert on the sole access road to Struthers Lake Regional Park, located in the Rural Municipality of Ivergordon about 126 km northeast of Saskatoon, was completely washed out by the water.
Kevin Hawreschuk, the reeve of the Rural Municipality of Invergordon, mentioned that about 19 individuals are stranded due to the flooding, prompting the RM to declare a local state of emergency on Sunday.
Efforts are underway to rescue those stranded as the RM collaborates with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) emergency services to develop a plan for their evacuation.
The RM council and emergency services are working together to secure access to required pasture land and government acres for bringing in heavy equipment to assist in snow clearance.
The strategy involves using all-terrain vehicles, specifically side-by-sides with tracks, to transport people out of the affected area, with the temporary installation of a bridge planned within two to three days.
The RM has faced significant challenges from melting snow, resulting in the closure or inundation of about 20 roads so far this spring season.
Despite the unprecedented scale of flooding, Hawreschuk emphasized that the situation is under control and reassured the community that efforts are ongoing to manage the crisis efficiently.
Gordon Harding, a long-time resident of RM of Invergordon, was one of the first to report the washed-out road, describing the sight as an overwhelming amount of water.
Harding, who lives near the affected area, highlighted the severity of the flooding this year, comparing it to the conditions experienced in 1974 and expressing concerns about the continuing rise in water levels.
Additionally, spring flooding has led to the closure of at least 16 highways across the province, mainly affecting the eastern regions, prompting multiple communities to declare states of emergencies or issue flooding advisories.
In northern Saskatchewan, English River First Nation has seen dozens of residents displaced following washouts on highways 918 and 165 over the weekend, leaving the community of Patuanak entirely isolated due to active road closures.
“Spring Floods Strand 19 Near Struthers Lake”
