SASKATOON — Captain Mike Steckhan is appealing to the provincial government to help with the spring cleaning of the South Saskatchewan River. As the weather enters the sailing season, he calls for the government to wash away sand and silt that have accumulated, making the water unnavigable, which is one of the reasons the Prairie Lily remains anchored.
Steckhan, who has navigated the waters of the South Saskatchewan River aboard the iconic water vessel for years, is hoping the government will act immediately, as a year’s worth of sand and silt has choked the city’s once-clear waterway. The Prairie Lily started providing river cruises in 2012.
Steckhan, who is a retired chief petty officer with Her Majesty’s Royal Canadian Navy likened the situation to a homeowner cleaning a driveway or sidewalk, using a garden hose as winter snow begins to melt, leaving behind dirt and soil that prevent the proper flow of water into storm drains. A portion of water released from Lake Diefenbaker could help solve the issue, he suggests.
"Think of your sidewalk after a long winter. It’s covered in mud, leaves and pine needles. You grab your garden hose, turn it on jet and you can clean it in minutes,” said Steckhan during a media conference aboard the Prairie Lily with his crew members and Opposition MLAs Erika Ritchie and Nathaniel Teed on Monday, May 12.
“But, put it on sprinkler mode, and all you do is make a mess. That’s what’s happening to the South Saskatchewan River. It’s not just low water anymore. It’s high sand. And that’s what’s blocking fish, stranding boats and hurting businesses. The damage is already here. It’s not about opinion anymore. It’s visible. It’s real. And it’s reversible — if we act.”
Saskatoon and the river valley have been experiencing a silent crisis for five straight years due to low water flows that could have been maintained at reservoir levels. Low flows have been a persistent problem for the South Saskatchewan River, which has been far below natural levels — a concern for Steckhan and his crew.
The steady accumulation of sand and silt resulted from the South Saskatchewan River no longer experiencing natural high-flow flushing of the riverbed that once kept the waterway clear during spring snowmelt. The construction of the Gardiner Dam and its water management reduced these spring flushes.
Steckhan has called on the Water Security Agency to release 900 cubic metres per second for three days from the Gardiner Dam. While the dam has provided drought resilience, it has also interrupted the South Saskatchewan River’s natural rhythm. A controlled flush could restore safe navigation and improve the ecosystem’s health.
The water from the Gardiner Dam, which also supports hydroelectric power generation and irrigation in the province, could wash out several feet of sand in the South Saskatchewan River and benefit businesses that rely on its waters.
Steckhan said inaction from the government has affected the Prairie Lily’s operation this spring, with people cancelling their river tours. They have instead turned to dockside brunches to get by. Paddlers and rowers are skipping Saskatoon because there isn’t enough water, and fish and aquatic life are being pushed to the edge by shallow, silty channels.
“I know what 900 looks like. It’s not catastrophic. It would raise the river level to the sidewalk by the roundabout where people stand at River Landing. That’s it. And if we did it now, we wouldn’t have to do it again for years. We’re not asking for all the water. We’re asking for a portion — about 0.56 metres off the top of Diefenbaker Lake,” said Steckhan.
“The lake is above its historic average high for this time of year. We’re just asking for part of what they weren’t expecting to get anyway. If the flow were approved, the Prairie Lily could return to business this weekend.”
