SIX COMMUNITIES IN WADENA AREA APPROVED FOR FLOOD PROTECTION GRANTS

Six communities in the Wadena area were recently approved for assistance under the Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program.

The towns of Rose Valley and Wadena and the villages of Sheho, Rama, Theodore and Invermay will share funding from the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority totalling more than $280,000. The grants for these communities will cover a variety of flood protection activities including construction of dykes at Invermay and Sheho, a sand bag dyke and drainage swale at Wadena, as well as snow removal, sandbagging, clearing culverts and ditches and pumping.

"I am pleased that government is able to assist these communities with their flood protection plans," Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Dustin Duncan said. "By working proactively we will reduce the risk of flood damage this spring."

"I am extremely happy that our government is able to assist these communities as they prepare for the spring melt following the heavy snowfall that we experienced in Saskatchewan this winter," Social Services Minister and Kelvington-Wadena MLA June Draude said. "This program allows for communities and homeowners to be proactive so that they will be able to limit damage caused by flooding if it were to occur."

The $22 million Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program provides technical and financial assistance to communities and individuals to protect homes and permanent structures against flood damage in 2011. Due to a wet fall and above-average snow accumulation, the risk of flooding during the spring runoff is higher than normal. Saskatchewan Watershed Authority provides 50 per cent of the estimated costs for temporary works, 75 per cent for permanent works and 85 per cent for farm yards.

Further details about the Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program and the spring runoff forecast are available at Saskatchewan Watershed Authority regional offices or on the province's flood website at www.saskflood.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Dwayne Rowlett
Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
Nipawin
Phone: 306-862-1750
Email: dwayne.rowlett@swa.ca