Water Supply Outlook Overview

For immediate release: September 10, 2002

Significant precipitation needed in Northern and Central

Alberta Environment forecasters are reporting that significant precipitation is needed to improve the overall water supply outlook for Northern and Central Alberta, despite near normal precipitation in some areas during the month of August. Most areas north of Calgary are extremely dry as a result of several consecutive months of much below-normal precipitation. River flows in the prairie region north of Calgary remain very low. The water supply outlook for has improved as a result of record high precipitation in June. River flows have returned to near average values after being much above average for the month of June and early July. Near normal precipitation was recorded in Southern Alberta in August with areas around Medicine Hat, including the Cypress Hills, recording much above-normal precipitation. Next month’s water supply outlook report will outline current conditions, and a comprehensive review and summary of the forecasts produced for the 2002 season. Other highlights of September’s water supply outlook include:

• Water storage levels in the major irrigation reservoirs in the basin are normal as of September 1, 2002, with the exception of St. Mary, Forty Mile and Oldman Reservoirs, which are above normal.

• Water storage in the basin’s major reservoirs is above-normal for this time of the year.

• Water storage in the major hydroelectric reservoirs in the Bow and basins is normal, with the exception of Lake Newell, Crawling Valley Reservoir, , Lake McGregor and Lake Abraham, which are above-normal.

-30- Media Contact: Communications Division Alberta Environment Phone: (780) 427-6267 Fax: (780) 427-1874 Pager: (780) 671-0549