The Okotoks Fire Department is keeping a watchful eye on the Sheep River's water levels.

While it isn't unusual for the Sheep River's levels to rise this time of year, the department is staying in contact with Alberta River Forecasting to make sure things stay under control.

Ken Thevenot, Okotoks Fire Chief, says the pace of the river has picked up but it's not posing a severe risk.

"When you drive by the river right now you've seen the rise in the levels. Our flow rates right now are maybe 30 cubic metres per second but that's the highest we've seen, 30-32 in our area, which is still fairly average for this time of year."

Thevenot explains there's a couple factors that can influence water levels.

"The major ones are the warm air and the precipitation levels. We do watch the weather patterns along with the snow pack, there's a lower percentage with that but it does impact it. We watch all those things as we move forward every day."

While Vulcan County was battling overland flooding a couple weeks ago, Thevenot says he hasn't seen anything near as severe around Okotoks.

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