Bow River Basin - Water Supply Forecasts

As of March 1, 2005, natural runoff volumes for the March to September 2005 period are forecast to be below average to average in the Bow River basin, except average at Banff and Lake Minnewanka (Table 4). Current natural runoff volume forecasts range from 82 to 98% of average, slightly lower than last month's due to below average to average precipitation during February. Current March to September 2005 volume forecasts are 5 to 10% higher than runoff volumes recorded during the same period last year for Banff, Calgary, the Highwood and Spray Rivers, and 9% lower for both the Cascade Reservoir and the Elbow River. The Kananaskis River is forecast to record similar volume to last year. Current forecasted volumes for the March to September 2005 period for the Bow River at Calgary would rank 43rd lowest in 91-years of record (1912-2001).