Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

April 2013

Water Supply Forecast as of April 1, 2013 - Bow River Basin (Natural Flows)

Volume Forecast for April 1 to September 30, 2013 Year to date
Locations Volume in dam3 Volume as a
% of Average
Probable Range as a % of Average Potential Minimum
as % of Average
Forecast Ranking (lowest to highest) Recorded March 2013 Volume as a % of Average Ranking (lowest to highest)
Bow River at Banff 1,011,000* 102 99-107 95 45/99 120** 98/99
Lake Minnewanka Inflow 163,000* 96 85-111 75 37/99 104** 61/99
Spray River near Banff 373,000* 107 99-114 93 56/99 94** 59/99
Kananaskis River 377,000* 102 92-113 84 42/99 93** 64/99
Bow River at Calgary 2,289,000* 103 97-108 93 47/99 111** 84/99
Elbow River 181,000* 94 81-117 69 42/99 113** 85/99
Highwood River 474,000* 88 71-88 56 37/99 102** 69/99

*NOTE: The forecast shown is the March to September 2013 forecast minus the recorded volume to date

** - Recorded 2013 natural volumes are preliminary and subject to change

Average is calculated for the March to September 30 period from 1981-2009

NOTE: There is: a 50% chance that the actual natural flow will fall within the probable range given; a 25% chance that the actual flow will be less than the lower bound of the probable range given; and a 10% chance that the actual natural flow will be less than the reasonable minimum. Actual day to day streamflow conditions may vary throughout the season as a result of the effects of streamflow diversion and reservoir storage.


For technical enquires about this web page please contact Alberta Environment - Environmental Management Water Management Operations Branch at AENV-WebWS@gov.ab.ca