Red Deer River Basin - Water Supply Forecasts

Natural runoff volumes for the March to September 2003 period are forecast to be much-below-average for the Red Deer River basin, ranging from 52 to 62 % of average (Table 5). The plains area between Dickson Dam and Red Deer has very dry soil moisture conditions and much-below-average snowpack as of February 1, so the forecast at Red Deer is lower percentage-wise compared to the upstream location (Dickson Dam). The current forecasted volumes for the March to September 2003 period for the Red Deer River basin are slightly lower than the volumes recorded over the same time period last year but very similar to those recorded in 2001. Current forecasted volumes would rank 5th to 9th lowest in 84-years of record (1912-95).