RIVER The Weir SAFETY

The Saskatoon Fire Department and Saskatoon Police Service operate a Joint River Patrol within the city. We are committed to promoting safety on the South Saskatchewan River through enforcement of respective laws, Photo provided by Global Saskatoon acts, bylaws and regulations. • A weir is a barrier constructed across a river to alter the flow. They prevent flooding, measure discharge, If you are in an and help render rivers navigable. emergency situation, • Weirs create a powerful backwash of water that can or are witnessing an trap objects and people. emergency situation on or • Saskatoon’s weir is located at 33rd Street and Spadina Crescent. near the river,

TIP: Never approach the weir. CALL 9-1-1. Always view the weir from a distance.

www.saskatoon.ca www.saskatoon.ca The South Saskatchewan River flows through the heart • Moving water also makes the riverbed unstable. What Changing Flow Rates of Saskatoon, providing leisure and spectacular scenery. was once shallow water can become much deeper in • The speed of the South Saskatchewan River through However, it can be dangerous. Bylaw No. 4433 prohibits a very short period of time. Saskatoon has been known to change from 50 to swimming in the river as there are many hazards. 2,300 cubic meters per second within a very short Tip: Use caution when walking along the river’s shore period of time, completely drowning the weir. River Obstacles or sandbars, wear protective footwear to avoid • The Saskatoon Fire Department Dive Rescue Team can • Obstacles like strainers, bridge piers and rocks are cuts and abrasions from sharp rocks or other hazards, like perform surface rescues in high current, but diving river hazards. broken glass.” underwater is dangerous. For the safety of the Team, • Strainers: strainers are obstacles such as trees, fallen water rescues must be suspended when the flow is branches, or broken concrete that allow water to pass Sandbar more than 450 cubic meters per second. through, but can snag or trap boats or people. • A sandbar is an elevated region of sand or gravel that forms • The public boat launch closes when flow rates meet • Bridge piers and rocks: If the water is moving fast in the slowest moving and shallowest part of a river. or exceed 1,000 cubic meters per second. enough, anyone could become pinned to a pier or • As the river speed changes, so does the size and shape caught in rocks. of the sandbar. Sandbars can become unstable. TIP: Obey all public warnings about flow rates and never • It is common for the down-stream side of a sandbar to go near the river when flow rates are high. TIP: When launching a pleasure craft or boating on the drop off gradually into the river however the up-stream Unstable Ice river, ensure you are familiar with boating regulations side of the sandbar can have an abrupt drop into deep • During the winter, the ice on the river is unstable. and follow the Transport Canada Safe Boating water. Guide at www.tc.gc.ca. TIP: Never walk on the river ice. TIP: Use caution when near Shore Edge Instability or on a sandbar. • Changing currents and river levels can cause the shore edge to become unstable.

Photo provided by Global Saskatoon