Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

March 2012

Water Supply Forecast as of March 1, 2012 - Bow River Basin (Natural Flows)

Volume Forecast for March 1 to September 30, 2012
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 2011 Volume as a % of Average
Bow River at Banff 1,098,000 103 91-123 79 53/91 95
Lake Minnewanka Inflow 176,000 94 83-104 77 30/91 133
Spray River near Banff 363,000 99 87-111 81 42/91 N/A
Kananaskis River 412,000 101 86-118 74 49/91 97
Bow River at Calgary 2,380,000 98 85-117 75 50/91 113
Elbow River 203,000 93 77-101 71 49/91 128
Highwood River 605,000 97 80-113 56 49/91 146


Average is calculated for the March 1 to September 30 period from 1912 to 2001

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