2011 Flood in the Qu'Appelle Valley

Just when I was getting ready to start the gardening season, we were hit with a record breaking flood that brought waters unlike any I have seen since we have been here. This is what the Valley looks like from the top of the hill. That was the road to Craven and Lumsden from our house. On a normal day, you would not be able to see the river from this vantage point. Now you can see a lake!

This is now one of two roads open to our house.

This is the water beside that road. If it breaches, we will be down to one route in and out. Of course, it is the longest route with the most gravel road to travel. On top of that, it only goes to Regina which means that getting to and from Craven is no longer possible without going all the way to the city and taking a different route back. Needless to say, we are sticking close to home right now.

This is our back field...

and this is our back yard. If the water breaches that road, we will be moving dog fencing very quickly! The dogs are on low lying ground, just the other side of this road. If the water comes in at all, it will fill fast. But we are still counting ourselves lucky because...

several of our neighbours homes have become islands. There is no water up in our yard but the crest is not expected until next week and snow/rain are forecast through the weekend. We had snow last night which did not seem to change the water level at our yard yet so we are just watching, waiting and wishing. Wishing that we don't have to sandbag or move fencing. Wishing that the water level starts to drop before it reaches the crest. Obviously, my gardening plans have been put on hold. That happens every year because I am, like most gardeners, always anxious to get started in the Spring. In a typical year, that usually means I am trying to dig frozen ground. This year, it is a little more drastic than that!