Lake Diefenbaker users will be treated to higher water levels this spring as the Water Security Agency charted a different path over the winter months.

The Crown corporation elected to cut back its release from southwest Sask.'s largest body of water knowing there might be less water replenishing it than in normal years.

Patrick Boyle, a spokesperson for the Water Security Agency, said their wintering plan included only releasing about one metre of water from Lake Diefenbaker which is a fraction of the regular amount of outflow.

"What we were doing is holding the reservoir higher over the winter period," he said. "Typically the reservoir sees about a four-and-a-half metre decrease over the winter period to account for that spring runoff and the mountain snowpack coming in from Alberta."

Lake Diefenbaker sat at 552.01 metres last week, which is up about one metre from its normal resting spot of 551 metres this time of year.

"We're throttling back outflows to keep the water higher in anticipation of low inflows to Lake Diefenbaker," he said. "We will be hitting our targets on levels earlier in the season. You will have a higher level for recreation and irrigators earlier."

The Water Security Agency recently met with some communities and stakeholders based around Lake Diefenbaker and shared they'd be diminishing outflows from the body of water. They were met with positive reactions to the idea.

Duncairn Reservoir continues to hold strong at 806.6 metres (similar to its early February measurement) or about 85 per cent full.

"It's an overwinter plan where we try to look at conserving as much as possible in there in anticipation of low flows," he said. "We will reduce outflows and keep it as high as possible. We're hoping that fills up this year.

"Having said that, we could get some heavy rains in spring that could change that and we could have to release some water. That's the dynamic game of water management."

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