Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

March 2015

Water Supply Forecast as of March 1, 2015 - Bow River Basin (Natural Flows)

Volume Forecast for March 1 to September 30, 2015
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 2014 Volume as a % of Average
Bow River at Banff 940,000 93 89-99 84 26/99 101
Lake Minnewanka Inflow 161,000 91 79-105 68 34/99 110
Spray River near Banff 383,000 106 100-106 94 58/99 88
Kananaskis River 371,000 97 87-108 78 36/99 116
Bow River at Calgary 2,255,000 98 93-103 88 37/99 144
Elbow River 180,000 89 79-111 90 39/99 144
Highwood River 476,000 86 67-104 50 34/99 156


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