Bow River Basin - Water Supply Forecasts

Much-below-average natural runoff volumes are forecast for the March to September 2003 period in the Bow River basin (Table 4), due to near record low snowpack in the headwaters of the Bow River basin. Forecast volumes for the Highwood, Elbow, and Kananaskis Rivers are slightly higher than the rest of the Bow River basin because of near average soil moisture conditions. Current March to September 2003 volume forecasts are lower than runoff volumes recorded last summer, but are higher than those recorded in 2001. Current forecasted volumes for the March to September 2003 period for the Bow River at Calgary would rank 16th lowest in 84-years of record (1912-95).