Qu'Appelle River

Up channel winter test site at PFRA weir is being reconstructed with new piering plus delta inlet lake bottom dredged to open shore thus more possible outlet for Echo Lake.
Previously channel had white foam bergs coming through channel; coagulation from Waste Water City of Regina? (Annual discharge.)

Fisherman at test site. Various garbage scatter. Decent river clean appearance with visible flow increase.

Huddle of ducks.

A bit of garbage. Muskrat burrow along bank side. Last years cattail stalks settled along river channel bank.
Fox wandering toward golf course, waited for vehicle traffic saw after my testing.

Alkalinity 220 ppm constant for years.
Hardness 150/180 ppm constant for years

Muskrat swimming on open channel. Low flying Canada geese always a treat. Sampling was 100 meters from unsafe edge ice. Actual is Secchi access drop from bridge over hang. Sample depth same as regular site. This I believe latest channel test in past 3 years vs. upstream availability at PFRA weir upstream in delta from Echo Lake.

Channel flow has been strong with higher upstream levels.
PFRA Weir lowered June 24th river channel appears clearer.

Steady channel current

River channel in spring runoff so secchi plus wind guesstamate .5 m depth with several tosses into current.
Water sample was visibly turbid.

Fresh appearance water channel 98% ice free some edge build at .5 cm.
Muskrat interested as tap hole into test hole. Pic att.
Pleasant surprise Secci took to bottom (been awhile).
16 Common Goldeneye bay/channel ducks floating. 10 brown winter color female with 6 black/white makes. Escaping pic att.
Irony pic of valley ski hill near opening date with late Fall ‘feel’. Channel iced up ~15 days prior.