Reservoir Storage Conditions

Water storage as of May 1, 2002 in the major irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs in the South Saskatchewan River basin is below-normal for this time of the season. Storage in most reservoirs is less than last year at this time and reservoir levels have not begun to recover due to the late spring. Mountain snowpack is an important source of water supply to reservoirs in the province.

Within the South Saskatchewan River basin, water storage in the major irrigation reservoirs of the Oldman River basin is below-normal for this time of the season, with the exception of Keho Lake, which is normal (Table 1). In the Bow River basin, water storage in most of the major hydroelectric and irrigation reservoirs is normal for the season, except for Spray Lake, Lake McGregor and Travers Reservoir, which are below-normal (Table 2). Water storage in Glennifer Lake (Red Deer River basin) is below-normal for this time of the season (Table 3). Water storage for this time of the year in the North Saskatchewan River basin major hydroelectric reservoirs is normal at Lake Abraham and below-normal for the Brazeau Reservoir (Table 4).