Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

April 2015

Water Supply Forecast as of April 1, 2015 - Bow River Basin (Natural Flows)

Volume Forecast for March 1 to September 30, 2015
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-September 2014 Volume as a % of Average
Bow River at Banff 916,000 91 87-96 84 20/99 101
Lake Minnewanka Inflow 152,000 85 75-100 66 24/99 110
Spray River near Banff 371,000 103 96-110 89 50/99 88
Kananaskis River 378,000 99 90-110 82 38/99 116
Bow River at Calgary 2,205,000 96 91-101 86 32/99 144
Elbow River 199,000 98 86-121 75 49/99 144
Highwood River 438,000 79 62-95 47 30/99 156


Average is calculated for the March 1 to September 30 period from 1981 to 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 potential 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