Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

July 2017

Water Supply Forecast as of July 1, 2017 - Bow River Basin (Natural Flows)

Volume Forecast for March 1 to September 30, 2017
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 2016 Volume as a % of Average
Bow River at Banff 1,338,000 133 129-136 126 95/99 88
Lake Minnewanka Inflow 203,000 115 109-123 104 64/99 74
Spray River near Banff 379,000 105 102-109 99 54/99 78
Kananaskis River 397,000 104 100-109 97 44/99 81
Bow River at Calgary 2,669,000 116 113-118 111 73/99 80
Elbow River 184,000 91 86-101 82 39/99 72
Highwood River 530,000 95 87-107 80 43/99 55


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