For Immediate Release June 11th, 2012
NBFES: Stay Away from River Water in the North Saskatchewan River is expected to rise by as much as two meters this week as a result of heavy precipitation that fell along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in recent days. With the expected high flow, and following significant rainfall in the Battlefords over the weekend, North Battleford Fire and Emergency Services (NBFES) Deputy Chief, Brian Wilson, is advising residents to stay out of the water and off the river shore. “It is already muddy along the shore and more rainfall is expected this week, so the areas around the river are slippery,” said Wilson. “If someone were to slip and fall into the North Saskatchewan River, they could be carried downstream quite quickly.” NBFES urges people to use caution near all waterways right now, particularly waterways that have higher than normal water levels. Wilson points out the increased flows can be interesting to watch, but can be extremely dangerous. The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority is monitoring weather and flow conditions and will issue updates as warranted. For the most recent information about flows and water levels, refer to the Recent Highlights Section at www.swa.ca. For more information: Brian Wilson, NBFES Deputy Chief, 445-1778 Mike Halstead, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, 445-1710
