Water Supply Outlook Overview

For Immediate Release: September 5, 2003

Summer very dry in western and southern Alberta

Following this summer’s (May through August) trend of below-normal precipitation, rainfall during August was generally below normal in Alberta. As a result, natural run-off volumes were only slightly higher than or approaching those recorded in August 2001, the lowest on record in many areas. For the March through August 2003 period, natural run-off volumes in the Oldman, Milk and Bow River basins generally rank among the 15 to 25 lowest volumes in 85 years of record over the same period. Natural run-off volumes during March through August 2003 range from 65 to 85 per cent of average in the Oldman and Milk River basins, 70 to 95 per cent of average in the Bow River basin and 80 to 105 per cent of average in the North Saskatchewan and Red Deer River basins. Other highlights of the September Water Supply Outlook include:

• As of September 1, 2003, water storage in major irrigation reservoirs in the Oldman River basin is below normal. Water storage in the major reservoir of the Red Deer River basin is below normal for this time of year.

• Water storage is below normal to normal as of September 1, 2003 in the major hydroelectric and irrigation reservoirs of the Bow River basin, except in the Glenmore Reservoir and Upper Kananaskis Lake which are above normal. Storage levels in the North Saskatchewan River basin are below normal at the Brazeau Reservoir and normal at the Bighorn Reservoir. Water storage in the Athabasca River basin at the South Heart Reservoir is below normal.

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Media Contact: Communications Division, Alberta Environment Phone: (780) 427-6267