Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

February 2015

Water Supply Forecast as of February 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 910,000 90 85-97 80 16/99 101
Lake Minnewanka Inflow 157,000 89 78-103 67 31/99 110
Spray River near Banff 359,000 100 93-107 87 43/99 88
Kananaskis River 356,000 93 82-104 73 28/99 116
Bow River at Calgary 2,156,000 94 89-98 85 31/99 113
Elbow River 169,000 83 74-105 66 31/99 144
Highwood River 486,000 88 70-115 55 35/99 156


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