Rising water shuts down part of Prince Albert park

Rising water levels along the North Saskatchewan River have forced the temporary closure of part of Little Red River Park in Prince Albert.

In a news release sent Thursday, the City of Prince Albert said a section of the park will be closed Friday due to the risk of water backing up into core areas.

“The closure will extend from the Highway 55 entrance to Cosmo Lodge, including the lodge itself. The Knotty Pine Bistro will also be closed during this time,” the city said.

The city said the precautionary measure is to ensure public safety as river levels continue to rise due to the rainfall in Alberta and the expected rainfall this weekend.

“A decision regarding reopening the affected section will be made early next week following a review of the latest river flow data and an on-site assessment, Parks and Open Spaces manager Tim Yeaman said.

A high flow advisory is also in effect for the North Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan River systems.

An advisory issued by the Water Security Agency Thursday said rainfall in Alberta over the past week has increased river flows, which are expected to raise water levels near Prince Albert by nearly two metres by June 27.

Flows are forecast to increase from about 450 cubic metres per second to roughly 1,500 and may remain elevated for an extended period due to ongoing precipitation.

Residents are being advised to stay out of the water, avoid low-lying and riverbank areas, keep pets away from the river, and refrain from using watercraft because of fast-moving water and debris.