Alberta river flows strong heading into summer, outlook shows

By Your Southwest Media Group

Most of Alberta's major rivers are heading into summer in far better shape than a year ago, according to the province's May Water Supply Outlook.

Strong mountain snowpack and several spring snowstorms restored much-needed moisture across most of the province. River volumes through September are forecast above normal or well above normal for the North Saskatchewan, Red Deer and Bow River basins, and most of the Oldman River basin.

"Most of Alberta is heading into the summer season in a much better situation than we've seen in recent years," said Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. "Strong river flows, full reservoirs and additional mountain snowmelt still to come are all good news for communities, agricultural producers and the many industries that depend on a reliable source of water."

Snowpack drove the positive outlook. Of the mountain sites surveyed around the start of May, 92 per cent showed conditions above normal or well above normal, and 15 per cent recorded the highest snowpack on record.

Reservoir storage is also strong. Total storage is normal in the Red Deer River basin and above normal in the Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan River basins.

The Milk River basin is the exception. Volumes there are forecast well below normal through September, after early-season runoff soaked into the soil rather than reaching the river. Snow monitoring sites near the basin headwaters in Montana recorded some of the lowest values on record, with limited runoff arriving about a month early.

Under the Canada-U.S. Boundary Waters Treaty, irrigators in the basin can no longer draw from the river. Household water use in the Town of Milk River is not affected. Canada was in deficit to the U.S. as of April 30, and natural flows on the river had all but stopped by early May.

The province updated drought stages on May 11. More than half of Alberta's major river basins now sit at Stage 0. The Red Deer River basin is at Stage 1, the Oldman, South Saskatchewan, Buffalo River and Great Slave Lake basins at Stage 2, and the Milk River basin at Stage 3.

Hunter said the government is watching conditions in the far south and stands ready to take a more active water management role if needed.