Reservoir Storage Conditions

As of March 1, 2004, water storage in the major irrigation reservoirs in the Oldman River basin is below-normal, except at Chain Lakes Reservoir which is normal. Water storage in the basin is greater than at this time in 2001.

Water storage as of March 1, 2004 in the major hydroelectric and irrigation reservoirs of the Bow River basin is below-normal except at the Upper Kananaskis Lake Reservoir which is normal, and Ghost Reservoir which is above-normal. Water storage is generally similar to storage on March 1, 2003.

Water storage in the major reservoir of the Red Deer River basin is normal, slightly greater than at this time last year.

Storage volumes in the major hydroelectric reservoirs in the North Saskatchewan River basin are below-normal for the Brazeau Reservoir and normal for Lake Abraham. Water storage in the Brazeau Reservoir is lower than last year and Lake Abraham is slightly higher than last year.

In the Athabasca River basin, the storage volume at the Paddle River Reservoir is lower than last year's, and the storage volume at the South Heart Reservoir is much greater than last year.

March 1, 2004 reservoir data is available in (Table 1). As some reservoirs are shut down for the winter, the last available water level and volume readings are posted.