A $66 million investment by the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure includes funding for patching along Highway 302 to Weldon Ferry.

The road was severely damaged by water earlier in the year, and a landslide forced the closure of the ferry approach.

Minister Jim Reiter said they are trying to put temporary crossing in place to use for the rest of this year.

"It's especially going to impact people during harvest," said Reiter.

The investment includes approximately 400 projects, which the ministry hopes will bring roads back to pre-moisture conditions.

The Saskatchewan government says its committed to repairing the highways that were ruined by spring flooding, by tackling 400 projects and spending $66 million.

On Tuesday the government announced an additional $46 million in highway repairs, on top of the $20 million already spent in July.

Highways minister Jim Reiter says they're hoping to complete most of the work this year.

“We are hoping that winter doesn’t hit early and that we can get the bulk of this done.”

The Saskatchewan government has made another change to provincial disaster assistance to help those still coping with the spring flooding disaster.

Municipalities are now eligible for an advance payment of 60 per cent of their total estimated claim.

Minister Yogi Huyghebaert says a lot communities are struggling after spending money trying to get roads functioning.

So far 40 municipalities have been paid out more than $3 million in advance payments.

Although 2,600 claims have arrived so far, Huyghebaert says they are still coming in.

In Saskatchewan’s south east, flooded out residents are demanding an investigation into how the Rafferty and Boundary dams were managed this summer.

Miles Haukeness watched his home go under water earlier this summer.

He and others in that area have been suggesting that the Boundary Power Station had a hand in slowing the flow out from the dams in order to keep their coal road open.

The backlog of water would eventually see the flooding reach even higher.

But at the power station manager Mike Zelney insists they never asked for special treatment.

Many Saskatchewan lakes are at a record high, according to the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.

Even today lakes across the province are at all-time highs for this time of year.

Dale Hjertaas with the group notes it would take a pretty serious rainfall to push us back into flooding concerns.

He adds that there is more of a concern of what all this water will mean months from now when the winter snow starts to melt.

Edited by News Talk Radio's Chris Morin.

This story was first reported on Aug. 12, 2011, at 3:53 p.m.

As water levels continue rising in Northern Saskatchewan, hopes of harvesting a wild rice crop are sinking for some growers in the La Ronge area.

Growers there estimate that only 10 to 20 per cent of this year’s crop will be harvested because of record-high water levels caused by heavy rain this summer.

“My lakes are completely wiped out. I was expecting about 300,000 to 400,000 pounds,” said Lynn Riese, manager of Riese's Canadian

Lake Wild Rice near La Ronge, who figures the wash out will cost him $250,000.

Anger and accusations of blindly following "the book" are being pointed at the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.

A Minot, N.D., TV anchor from KX News has calculated that had the authority just kept the flood gates open throughout the wet season instead of filling the reservoirs all the time, Minot would not have had to evacuate some 11,000 people.

Jim Olson admits what the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority did followed the rules of the treaty.

Relief efforts have centred on food, clothing and temporary housing for those hard hit by the devastating spring flooding.

But now the Estevan Salvation Army is looking at getting these people back into their homes with a normal life again with furniture and appliances.

Major Len Millar is with the Estevan Salvation Army, and he said people have been very generous.

“Individuals have responded tremendously and have come here and supported the community and supported the Salvation Army in our efforts,” he said.

The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority says the Montreal River, which has been the main source of flooding this summer, appears to have crested.

However, the flooding is far from over in one community.

In the village of Air Ronge the swollen river has overtaken a local road, putting about 12 homes in the area at risk.

Deputy Mayor Dave Smallwood says that has forced them to issue a voluntary evacuation order

“Even though it has crested, the question is where does the present water go?” asks Smallwood.

Highway 39 is closed between Estevan and Midale, according to the provincial Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure.

The stretch of highway closed Wednesday morning to allow crews to raise the grade northwest of Estevan. A one-kilometre stretch will be raised 0.6 metres.

Motorists will be detoured east and west using Highway 13 between Weyburn and Stoughton, and north and south using Highway 47 between Stoughton and Estevan.

The ministry says local traffic will still have access.

Road work is expected to be done mid-August.