North Saskatchewan River Basin - Water Supply Forecasts

As of April 1, 2006, natural runoff volumes for the March to September 2006 period are forecast to be below average into the Bighorn and Brazeau Reservoirs and at Edmonton, ranging from 83 to 92% of average (Table 7a). This represents a 1 to 3% decrease since the March 1 forecasts. Current forecasted values for the March to September period for the North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton would rank 26th lowest in 91-years of record (1912-2001).

The first month of the forecast period has been completed, with March 2006 recorded natural runoff volumes at the Brazeau Reservoir being the sixth lowest in 41 years of record at 69% of average. Edmonton and the Bighorn Reservoir recorded natural runoff which was average to above average at 102 and 115% of average, respectively. Recorded volume data is preliminary, due to ice effects, and is subject to change. March volumes typically comprise a small portion of the March to September total. The remaining volume forecast, which is the March to September 2006 forecast minus the recorded volume to date, is available in Table 7b.