Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

July 2016

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

Volume Forecast for March 1 to September 30, 2016
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 2015 Volume as a % of Average
Bow River at Banff 889,000 88 84-92 81 13/99 89
Lake Minnewanka Inflow 121,000 68 63-76 58 7/99 70
Spray River near Banff 301,000 84 80-87 77 15/99 68
Kananaskis River 320,000 84 80-89 77 14/99 80
Bow River at Calgary 1,958,000 85 82-87 80 18/99 81
Elbow River 132,000 65 61-76 56 11/99 83
Highwood River 268,000 48 40-60 33 7/99 73


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