Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

May 2010

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

Volume Forecast for May 1 to September 30, 2010 Year to date
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-April 2010 Volume as a % of Average Ranking (lowest to highest)
Bow River at Banff 837,000* 82 73-89 68 11/91 89** 24/91
Lake Minnewanka Inflow 138,000* 81 70-92 62 22/91 80** 26/91
Spray River near Banff 301,000* 87 75-100 71 28/91 104** 60/91
Kananaskis River 347,000* 90 84-101 75 27/91 82** 24/91
Bow River at Calgary 1,843,000* 82 72-93 65 20/91 83** 19/91
Elbow River 159,000* 81 69-95 60 36/91 83** 24/91
Highwood River 426,000* 76 53-102 44 32/91 64** 30/91

*NOTE: The forecast shown is the March to September 2010 forecast minus the recorded volume to date

** - Recorded 2010 natural volumes are preliminary and subject to change

Average is calculated for the period 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 reasonable 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