Construction has begun on the third of nine Flood Control Strategy Projects across Saskatoon.

The project is a dry storm pond being built in the north end of Weaver District Park and will reduce flooding to areas around the intersections of Cascade Street and Dufferin Avenue as well as and Bute Street and Dufferin Avenue.

A news release from the City of Saskatoon says 40 per cent of the construction costs of the nine projects will be covered by the federal government. The rest of the funding will come from the Storm Water Utility Capital Program and revenue generated from Storm Water Utility Charges. When dry, the storm pond will be used as a recreational or park space, and it is expected to be complete by 2024.

A second dry storm pond was constructed last year at Churchill District Park in Saskatoon and it means that during intense summer rainfalls the risk of flooding is lowered substantially for more than 50 properties in the area.   There will be new trees, a new pathway, new multi-use sports fields, and spectator seating built into the slopes when the storm pond opens as a recreational space this year.

The Churchill Park dry storm pond took approximately nine months to build. It will reduce summer flood concerns around Ruth Street and Cairns Avenue, Bute Street and Munroe Avenue, Ruth Street and York Avenue, and Bute Street and Albert Avenue. The first dry storm pond opened in W.W. Ashley District Park in October and proved its worth in an intense rainstorm on June 20th, 2022.

Dry storm ponds are designed to hold water that would otherwise cause flooding during intense rainfalls. The water flows from nearby properties and roads into the dry storm pond before it slowly drains into the storm sewer and to the South Saskatchewan River.