Chapter 16: Water Resources

16.39: Flooding in and near the Little Saskatchewan River Valley

This spring photo shows the upper reaches of the Little Saskatchewan River 1 between Riding Mountain National Park, off the photo to the north, and the Keeseekoowenin First Nation 2 in the south. The meanders of the Little Saskatchewan River 3 can be seen but are partly obscured by the fact that the valley floor 4 is flooded and therefore dark-toned. This area is covered by ground moraine with numerous small lakes (sloughs) in the hollows 5. All the sloughs west of the river are mapped as intermittent lakes on the 1:50,000 map of the area[i], but at the time the photo was taken, soon after snow melt, they are all water-filled. The same is true of lakes east of the river with the exception of one large lake in the northeast that is mapped as a permanent lake 6.

Note the variation in lake tone from almost black in the west 7 to almost white—due to specular reflection—in the southeast 8. Note also the difference in land use between the First Nations—almost completely wooded—and the surrounding area—mainly cleared for agriculture.

Figure 16.39: Flooding in and near the Little Saskatchewan River Valley

Figure 16.39

Vertical air photograph: A15226-8

Flight height: 20,000 feet a.s.l.; lens focal length: 152.26 mm

Scale: 1:35,200 (approx.)

Date: May 24, 1956

Location: Townships 18 and 19; Range 21WI

Map sheets: 1:250,000 62K Riding Mountain

                    1:50,000 62K/9 Elphinstone

Notes

[i] Elphinstone 62K/9.