North Saskatchewan River Basin - Water Supply Forecasts

As of July 1, 2006, natural runoff volumes for the March to September 2006 period are forecast to be below to much below average into the Brazeau Reservoir and below average at Edmonton, at 80 and 85% of average respectively, and above average into the Bighorn Reservoir at 104% of average (Table 7a). This represents a 2% decrease since the June 1 forecasts at the Brazeau Reservoir and a 6% increase at the Bighorn Reservoir, which results in no change in the Edmonton forecast. Current forecasted values for the March to September period for the North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton would rank 28th lowest in 91-years of record (1912-2001).

The first four months of the forecast period have been completed, with March-June 2006 recorded natural runoff volumes at the Brazeau Reservoir being the 7th lowest in 41 years of record at 70% of average. The Bighorn Reservoir recorded natural runoff which was above to much above average at 114% of average and Edmonton recorded below to much below average natural runoff volumes at 77% of average. Recorded volume data is preliminary, and is subject to change. The remaining volume forecast, which is the March to September 2006 forecast minus the recorded volume to date, is available in Table 7b. For July - September 2006, below average natural runoff volumes are forecast. Current forecasted values for the North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton would rank 37th lowest in 91-years of record (1912-2001).