Water Supply Outlook for Alberta
April 2006
Mountain Snowpack |
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Snow accumulations in the mountains as of April 1, 2006 generally improve moving from north to south (Table 1). Measured snowpacks are generally much below average in the Athabasca, North Saskatchewan and Red Deer River basins. In the Highwood and upper Bow River basins snowpack conditions are below average, while in the Kananaskis and Elbow River basins conditions are generally below average to average. Snowpack conditions in the Oldman River basin, including the Waterton and St. Mary's River basins, generally ranges from average to above average at upper elevations but is below average at lower elevations. The snowpack in the upper Peace River basin, in British Columbia, is generally below average. The mountain snowpack is an important source of water supply to reservoirs in the spring. On average, the accumulation of snow at this time of the year is nearing the seasonal total in the Oldman River basin and is normally 80 to 95 % of the seasonal total in mountain areas north of this basin. Eight snow courses and two automated snow pillow readings were taken at the end of March in the Oldman River basin (Table 2). The three locations at lower elevations (4900 to 5000ft) had values ranging from 66 to 79% of average for this time of year, which is below average. For the seven locations above 5900ft the snowpacks ranged from 89 to 125% of average, which is generally average to above average in the Oldman River basin and above average in the Waterton\St. Mary's River basin. Seventeen snow courses were measured at the end of March in the Bow River basin, with values ranging from 71 to 107% of average (Table 3). In the Highwood River and upper Bow River basins, snowpack conditions are below average, while in the Kananaskis and Elbow River basins conditions are generally below average to average. Three snow course measurements were taken at the end of March in the Red Deer River basin, with values ranging from 57 to 83% of average, which is much below average for this time of year. Snowpack in the basin ranges from second to sixth lowest in about 25 years of record (Table 4). Four snow courses were measured in the North Saskatchewan River basin at the end of March. Measured values for two stations at higher elevations (6300ft and above) show the snow water equivalent to be 72 to 75% of average, while two lower stations show the snowpack to be 16 to 29% of average. All snow course measurements taken in the North Saskatchewan River basin indicate the snowpack to be much below average for this time of year, ranking from fourth to sixth lowest in approximately 35 years of record (Table 4). In the Athabasca River basin three snow courses were taken at the end of March and values ranged from 58 to 92% of average . Within southern mountain areas of the basin snowpack was much below average, ranking from second to fourth lowest in approximately 38 years of record, while average snowpack was measured at Hinton. Snowpack in the upper Peace River basin in British Columbia is generally below average, as seen in the B.C. Snowpack and Water Supply Outlook (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/rfc/river_forecast/bulletin.htm). At twelve snow course sites, real-time snow accumulation can be monitored using snow pillows. Snow pillows can be viewed by choosing any mountainous southern basin, and snow data, in the two drop down menus at: |
For technical enquires about this web page please contact Alberta Environment - Environmental Management Water Management Operations Branch at AENV-WebWS@gov.ab.ca
