Concerns about moisture as spring melt begins

There is a lot of talk of spring now that the weather is starting to warm up.

When it comes to the big melt, the Water Security Agency (WSA) is predicting a fairly normal runoff across the province in its March forecast.

Where runoff is expected to be well below average is an area extending from the upper end of Lake Diefenbaker, northeast to Wynyard and south to Moose Jaw.

“This area was quite dry in 2018 and the snowpack is below normal,” the agency stated in a release.

Even with seeding still several weeks away, moisture is already a concern for Aaron Siemens. He farms southeast of Lucky Lake and is constantly faced with the threat of drought.

“We’re always two weeks from a drought,” he said. “Doesn’t matter how wet it is, the land dries out quickly where we farm.”

While there’s enough moisture to plant a crop this spring, Siemens said the lack of snow on his land is concerning.

“The crop will quickly wither without some rain this spring, that’s for sure,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of reserve left.”

Kirby Schmidt, who farms near Watrous, is preparing for dryer conditions this year as well. But he adds that a lot can change between now and when  they start seeding.

“You never rely on snow to grow a crop anyway,” Schmidt said. “You’ve got to have timely rains.”

The agency said above-normal snowmelt is expected west of Prince Albert, including Lloydminster due to wetter conditions at freeze-up and above-normal snowpack this year.

The WSA said that, based on current conditions, the potential for flooding this spring is low, but noted that could change in its April forecast.