The CPR weir has been an attractive site for many years. Found next to the walking paths, on the Southside of Swift Current,  it has been a place for bird watchers and nature lovers for generations.

 Lately though the structure has started to show it’s age. Boards have been popping off during spring runoff over the last several years.

The city has been trying to repair the weir with no luck as Mitch Minken, General Manager of infrastructure and Operations said, “Yes we have had some damage done to the spill way to the CPR weir over the last couple of spring runoff events when we’ve had some ice come over the weir and tear up some planking that makes up the spillway.”

If residents are concerned about the weir giving way, Minken says that is not an issue, as the main construction of the weir is a concrete wall that is solid and has no issues. The spill way is what can be seen above water and is rotting away.

An engineering company has been hired to review the current state of the weir and will make a report to council later in the fall with recommendations on what will be needed to improve the spillway. If council agrees construction would not happen until after the spring runoff in 2017.