Red Deer River Basin - Water Supply Forecasts

Natural runoff volumes (for the March to September 2002 period) are forecast to be below-average for the Red Deer River at Dickson Dam and much-below-average for the Red Deer River at Red Deer (Table 5). Current snowpack at the higher elevations is near normal with less accumulation at lower (plains) elevations between Dickson Dam and Red Deer. This lesser snowpack is reflected in the Red Deer at Red Deer forecast being lower percentage-wise compared to the upstream location (Dickson Dam).

Current forecasted values for the March to September period for the Red Deer River at Red Deer would rank 24th lowest in 84-years of record (1912-95). The February 1 forecasts are 16 to 18% higher than recorded values observed over the same time period last year.