Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

August 2016

Water Supply Forecast as of August 1, 2016 - Bow River Basin (Natural Flows)

Volume Forecast for August 1 to September 30, 2016 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-July 2016 Volume as a % of Average Ranking (lowest to highest)
Bow River at Banff 224,000* 87 78-96 69 17/99 86** 16/99
Lake Minnewanka Inflow 33,000* 84 69-101 56 25/99 68** 6/99
Spray River near Banff 72,000* 90 76-104 64 27/99 81** 12/99
Kananaskis River 82,000* 87 77-99 68 14/99 83** 19/99
Bow River at Calgary 523,000* 88 82-94 77 23/99 78** 11/99
Elbow River 40,000* 87 77-111 68 39/99 66** 14/99
Highwood River 67,000* 83 43-125 7 47/99 50** 9/99

*NOTE: The forecast shown is the March to September 2016 forecast minus the recorded volume to date

** - Recorded 2016 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