Saskatchewan resort village getting $3.9M to raise berms, hold back rising lake

A popular Saskatchewan tourist destination is getting help to hold back rising water that threatens the community and a camp for disabled persons.

• Danceland threatened by rising water levels in Little Manitou Lake
• Rising waters at Manitou Beach at 'crucial point', mayor says

The provincial government has approved spending of up to $3.9 million to raise berms by one metre in the resort village of Manitou Beach, about 120 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon, and Camp Easter Seal.

Manitou Beach Mayor Gerry Worobec says the berms must be higher to protect homes or businesses and to keep water from Little Manitou Lake out of the sewer and water systems.

Worobec says the situation is urgent because the current berm already has temporary barriers on top of it and sometimes that is overtopped by waves on windy days.

Increasing the height of the berm is expected to cost the village of about 250 people just under $1 million.

But Worobec says what is really needed is a permanent plan to divert water from running into the lake, which is a closed basin, meaning water has nowhere else to flow.