The South Saskatchewan River level is low with sandbars in Saskatoon, even as the province plans to divert water for a dubious irrigation project.

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Maybe Saskatoon has reached the end with the South Saskatchewan River.

Given the river’s current depleted state and the proliferation of sandbars, it’s time to embrace the South Saskatchewan Sand Dunes. Instead of jet skis, kayaks and paddle boards, we should envision dune buggies and camel rides.

But the situation is actually quite serious — and not just because we may never again see the Prairie Lily chugging up and down the river as a signature sign of a Saskatoon summer.

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The riverboat’s owners wanted to sell the craft at the end of this summer and retire after a dozen seasons of operation. But the low water level and the sandbars make it too difficult for the popular tourist attraction to navigate the river.

The NDP held a news conference this week to highlight the issues created by the river’s condition, including the possible cancellation of the Labour Day fireworks festival.

But it’s far more serious. The Meewasin Valley Authority, the same agency for which Premier Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party government gutted provincial funding, warned of safety issues last week since the sandbars may appear to be deceptively stable and the drop-off next to some may be deeper than they look.

And Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block questioned the ability of emergency services to rescue people in distress on the river.

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“It’s not just recreation, it’s not just commerce, it’s about safety,” Block told reporters following her first