Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

May 2010

Water Supply Forecast as of May 1, 2010 - Bow River Basin (Natural Flows)

Volume Forecast for March 1 to September 30, 2010
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 2009 Volume as a % of Average
Bow River at Banff 880,000 82 74-89 69 10/91 72
Lake Minnewanka Inflow 150,000 81 70-91 64 22/91 84
Spray River near Banff 324,000 89 77-101 73 29/91 84
Kananaskis River 366,000 90 84-100 76 30/91 83
Bow River at Calgary 1,981,000 82 73-93 66 18/91 80
Elbow River 177,000 81 70-94 62 33/91 86
Highwood River 467,000 75 54-98 46 31/91 67


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