Low water, high sand may force cancellation of Prairie Lily’s season

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The operators of Saskatoon’s Prairie Lily riverboat planned for 2025 to be their final summer on the South Saskatchewan River. They now say that unless the province’s Water Security Agency steps in, the end of their Prairie Lily operations may have already taken place.

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Mike and Joan Steckhan, who have owned and operated the Prairie Lily since 2012, say low water and high sand levels will lead to the cancellation of its 2025 cruising season. The remedy, say the Steckhans, is for the WSA to release enough water from Lake Diefenbaker to clear out sand and silt build up.

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“Typically, there is adequate water flow downstream from Lake Diefenbaker to keep the river navigable,” Joan and Mike said in a statement. “Unfortunately, adequate water flow is no longer the case, and this has resulted in an accumulation of sand in the river.”

The Steckhans said they, and other businesses that operate in and around the South Saskatchewan River, “knew as early as last summer there was a problem” with water levels. They said they welcomed the WSA president and VP of science and licensing for a cruise last July “so they could see firsthand the concern before it became an issue.”

According to the couple, they told the WSA last week following the Prairie Lily’s annual pre-cruising river survey that the river was not navigable. The Steckhans say they were informed on May 2 that the WSA will not release additional water from Gardiner Dam.

The WSA currently plans to maintain 60-centimetre flows. Mike Steckhan — who spent 27 years in the navy and was a chief engineer on Canadian warships — said he’s been familiar with this river for 30 years, and recommends a flow of 900 cubic metres per second for 72 hours, or 400 cubic metres per second for several days. He says the WSA has not released substantial water flows since 2020, which has contributed to high levels of sand in the river.

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“If the lake was empty, I wouldn’t be whining,” Mike said.

He said he’s never seen the river go four or five years without a flush.

Joan equated the rush of water needed to clear out sand and silt to about two-thirds of the additional water stockpiled at Gardiner Dam, or about 0.56 metres of depth from Lake Diefenbaker.

If the WSA followed their recommendation and had water flowing either Monday or Tuesday, Joan said the Prairie Lily could be back running by the weekend. She said they are currently in the process of cancelling for the weekend, and trying to offer dockside brunches and dinners on the boat.

“But this is not just about us,” they said.

“Canada Day events and the Nutrien Fireworks Festival are in jeopardy, and more than $1.3 million in tourism revenue could be lost,” said Erika Ritchie, MLA for Saskatoon Nutana.

She said the situation is also creating safety concerns.

“There are fears that first responders won’t have proper access with emergencies. The docks used by the fire department and RCMP are now buried in sand.”

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Ritchie said this means that help might not be available in time in an emergency situation.

The StarPhoenix reached out to WSA and the Saskatoon Fire Department for comment, but didn’t hear back by deadline.

Nathaniel Teed, MLA for Saskatoon Meewasin, said attractions like the Prairie Lily are a large part of Saskatoon’s economy.

“We don’t know the true cost of the Sask. Party’s failure already, but we need them to act immediately before we take a bigger hit,” Teed said.

He said the warning signs were there, but they were ignored.

The Steckhans say they know Lake Diefenbaker needs to retain water for power production and irrigation. They say lake water levels are currently above the historic average high, and will increase even more next month following expected spring run off from the above-average snowpack from the Rocky Mountains.

They said they were “all set and excited” for the 2025 season, which they announced last September would be their last as operators of the riverboat. Now, they “regret dearly” the prospect of having to cancel cruises until water levels rise.

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Shad Ali, president of the Saskatoon Fireworks Festival Inc., said the name Saskatchewan is translated to “swift-flowing river.”

“We have everything but that right now here in Saskatoon,” Ali said.

He said this was a complex issue and that the province needs to manage the needs and demands, which were numerous.

“A balanced approach should not ignore the needs of an important economic driver in our province.”

Mike said it’s still the final year that they’ll be running the Prairie Lily, adding that it’s time to retire.

“The ship is for sale, the business is for sale, and we hope it sells.”

He said he wants to see the riverboat continue to operate.

“For years to come, there’s lots of life left in this hull. There’s years of life in the engines. There’s no reason why this ship and this business cannot operate in the future.”

Mike said they’ve tried to arrange a simple and easy handoff for anyone interested, saying they were hoping to use this summer to teach a potential buyer how to operate the ship.

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“We still have great hopes that it’ll sell this season, and then the ship can carry on operating in Saskatoon.”

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