Now is the time for canoeists and kayakers to paddle the Sturgeon River, says St. Albert’s environmental manager, as the high water level caused by recent rainfall makes it more pleasurable to use.
“Get out and enjoy the river while you can,” Leah Jackson said. “Right now it’s great for kayaking and canoeing. There’s even a bit of water to make it over the beaver dams.”
While the water level is high, Jackson said it is still within normal levels and in no danger of flooding.
“I wouldn’t even say it’s in a flood condition at all.”
Widespread precipitation in the water basin has caused the Sturgeon to rise to levels that exceed its annual peak during the spring when snow melts, says Jackson. That means signs have gone up near some of the walking trails onto which the river encroaches. But aside from the trail leading to the BLESS platform, most are still useable.
“The depth can be anywhere from one inch to six inches,” Jackson said, adding the city puts out signs regardless of how much water is present.
There is also little risk of blue-green algae blooms. While Lac Ste. Anne, to which the Sturgeon connects, has experienced such blooms, Jackson said the lake’s waters move more slowly than the Sturgeon’s, making the lake more susceptible to blooms than the river.
“I think I’ve only seen one or two reports and it’s been very localized,” said Jackson. “We had one at one of our outfalls three years ago.”
There is blue-green algae in the river, but Jackson said “none of the populations are out of whack,” meaning no blooms are likely to form.
