Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

March 2016

Water Supply Forecast as of March 1, 2016 - Bow River Basin (Natural Flows)

Volume Forecast for March 1 to September 30, 2016
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 2015 Volume as a % of Average
Bow River at Banff 964,000 96 87-101 87 31/99 89
Lake Minnewanka Inflow 162,000 91 80-106 69 34/99 70
Spray River near Banff 363,000 101 94-107 89 45/99 68
Kananaskis River 375,000 98 90-106 83 37/99 80
Bow River at Calgary 2,244,000 97 92-102 88 34/99 81
Elbow River 190,000 94 88-100 83 42/99 83
Highwood River 445,000 80 67-93 56 31/99 73


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