Latest news with #OldmanRiver
CTV News
27-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Lethbridge Fire and EMS refresh water rescue skills, issue summer water safety reminders
With more people expected to hit the water to cool down, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services is reminding everyone to do so safely and plan ahead. With summer temperatures returning to southern Alberta, many will be finding ways to beat the heat, including taking a float down the Oldman River, and that has Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services (LFES) refreshing their water skills. 'We get really, really nice weather in Lethbridge, and people are wanting to take advantage of that, and one of the ways they take advantage of that is to spend time close to water,' said Charles Schoening, water rescue team lead with LFES. 'Our river is extremely popular for rafting and floating, but we need to take a minute and think about how to do so safely.' To prepare for the months of July and August, typically the busiest time for the water rescue team, members spent Thursday taking part in a simulated search at Riverstone Pond. 'This is something that we do every three years to refresh everybody's skills as well as to train new members of the team,' said Schoening. With summer temperatures returning to southern Alberta, many will be finding ways to beat the heat, including taking a float down the Oldman River, and that has Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services refreshing their water skills. With summer temperatures returning to southern Alberta, many will be finding ways to beat the heat, including taking a float down the Oldman River, and that has Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services refreshing their water skills. LFES' water rescue team consists of 24 certified members. 'There's lots of local ponds, lots of reservoirs, lots of rivers around, so (it's) super important that we can manage ourselves under the water, near the water or on top of the water,' said Braden Burton, firefighter/advanced care paramedic and member of the LFES water rescue team. Officials say the Oldman River is a popular destination for recreation, but swift currents, changing water conditions and hidden hazards can quickly turn a fun outing into an emergency. Last week, a 17-year-old boy died while trying to swim across the Oldman River. With summer temperatures returning to southern Alberta, many will be finding ways to beat the heat, including taking a float down the Oldman River, and that has Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services refreshing their water skills. With summer temperatures returning to southern Alberta, many will be finding ways to beat the heat, including taking a float down the Oldman River, and that has Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services refreshing their water skills. LFES is reminding water recreators to be safe and plan ahead. 'It's important, first of all, to make sure somebody is aware of what your plan is,' said Schoening. 'So, if you're going to go for a float, call a trusted family member or friend and tell them when you're planning to go to the river, where you're going to be parked while you're on the river, what your vehicle is that you're taking and what your expected time of arrival back is.' He says wearing a life jacket, proper footwear, avoiding alcohol, bringing a cellphone and staying away from high-risk areas are important. 'The High Level Bridge is not a great place to be in the water,' said Schoening. 'There's extremely unpredictable currents around the pillars of the bridge and there's also a lot of snag risks—there's barbed wire that's floated downriver and there's steal beams down there.' For those who do fall in, experts say the best thing to do is not panic. 'The first thing in lifeguard training that we do is encourage calmness and everything is going to be OK and that communication is clear and concise,' said Ryenee Katterhagen, a lifeguard at the YMCA Lethbridge. She says if a person falls in, they need to find a point of safety, and if they become tired from swimming, flip onto their back to float and take a break before swimming again. Katterhagen says knowing how to swim can make the biggest difference. 'At the YMCA, we offer swim lessons for infants all the way up to adults,' she said. 'Knowing how to swim adds a lot of confidence to someone when they are in the water and how to navigate certain situations.'
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
City of Lethbridge preparing for heavy weekend rain
Officials in Lethbridge are on alert with heavy rain in the forecast for the next few days. Karsen Marczuk reports. With between 50 to 100 mm of rain forecasted to fall in Lethbridge and across southern Alberta, the City of Lethbridge has begun preparing for the heavy amount of precipitation in a short period of time. While the risk of overland flooding near the Oldman River is low, the city will be monitoring river levels closely this weekend. 'The river is running fairly low as of late, so there is lots of room for the water that we may get as rain to come in... and the river levels should rise a little bit depending on where that rain falls,' said Mark Svenson, environment manager with the City of Lethbridge. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for Lethbridge on Friday because of the heavy rain and strong winds expected on Friday through Sunday. 'When you get a storm system like this that's going to drop a lot of moisture -- a lot of rain -- and potentially snow in the higher elevations as well, there is a risk of flooding,' said Svenson. Overland flooding of parks and greenspaces, storm ponds and underpasses are possible. The city says if storm pond level rise significantly, it can take up to 48 hours after the rain stops for the level to return to normal, because the excess water is released at a reduced rate to protect the storm infrastructure. While driving, Svenson says if a roadway or underpass is flooded, do not go through large puddles. 'Crews are standing by to unblock storm drains as necessary, and they will be able to respond as required,' he said. The large amount of water can cause damage to homes and businesses. The city says residents should check sump pumps, basements and near the foundation throughout the rainfall. 'Check your gutters, your eavestroughs on your house,' said Svenson. 'Clean those out and make sure they're clear and not plugged, so that the rain that does fall on your house can make its way safely off. Make sure your downspouts are directed away from your house. Ideally, you want them directed about two metres away from your foundation.' While this weather system may pose challenges to infrastructure, it is needed in the region. According to the province, storage of the Oldman Reservoir is below normal at 66 per cent. The St. Mary Reservoir has a normal level of 87 per cent, while the Waterton Reservoir has a current storage of 69 per cent. 'Having a big rainfall like this does come with both pluses and minuses, but I think everyone who has gardens or trees, this is just a great way to get some water deep into the soil that will really help take us through the summer,' said Kathleen Sheppard, executive director of Environment Lethbridge. 'This is a great time, if you got a rain barrel recently, this should do more than enough to fill it up. Make sure that you have mulch in your garden… that will really help hold the moisture in the soil after the rain stops.' While the heavy rain is needed, Svenson says it likely won't solve all the drought problems facing southern Alberta. 'It is possible for us to be in both flood and drought stage at the same time,' he said. Outside of Lethbridge, other municipalities are preparing for the rain. Parks Canada has temporarily closed Akamina Parkway and Red Rock Parkway in Waterton Lakes National Park to vehicle traffic as a precautionary measure. The BC River Forecast Centre has issued a flood watch for the region. In a Facebook post, the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) said its flood response unit will be monitoring conditions through the weekend and encourages residents who live in flood-prone areas to take steps to be prepared in the event the region does experience localize flooding. The RDEK has set up self-fill sandbag stations at Fairmont Hot Springs and along Highway 3 in Hosmer.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- CTV News
Body of drowned teen recovered from Oldman River
Calgary Watch Lethbridge police say the body of a 17-year-old boy was recovered from the Oldman River on Thursday, after he tried to swim across and went under.
CTV News
19-06-2025
- CTV News
Police recover body of teen boy who drowned in Lethbridge
Lethbridge police and fire crews were called to the Oldman River near the High Level Bridge on June 18, 2025, after a teenage boy went missing while trying to swim across the water. Lethbridge police say a 17-year-old boy idrowned in the Oldman River. Officials say the boy was attempting to swim across the river near the High Level Bridge at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. He went under the water and did not resurface. Police recovered the boy's body on Thursday morning. When the boy was reported missing, police responded to the scene and deployed a drone to search for him. A dive team with Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services also launched a boat, equipped with sonar, to search the water while other personnel searched the riverbanks. The search was called off when it became too dark on Wednesday. A large area of the river valley near the High Level Bridge was blocked off from the public Thursday as the search continued. Officials say the boy's body was found around 9 a.m. LPS victim/witness services are supporting the boy's family. There is no evidence of foul play.
