Alberta Environment flood estimates

Alberta Environment collected information during the June 2005 flooding to estimate the peak water flows in rivers across the province. These water flows have been used to predict the likelihood that a flood of similar scale could occur in any given year.

These are preliminary results that will be confirmed as Environment Canada finalizes their information over the next year.

North Saskatchewan River Basin
Red Deer River Basin
Bow River Basin
Oldman River Basin

North Saskatchewan River Basin

Station Name	Peak water flow (m³/s)	% chance of this flood occurring in any given year	Highest or next highest peak water flow on record (m³/s)
Brazeau River below Cardinal River	422	5%	668 in 1980
Brown Creek at Forestry Road	109	5 -10%	150 in 1986
Clearwater River near Dovercourt	938	Less than 1%	341 in 1990
Nordegg River at Sunchild Road	220	10%	620 in 1986
North Ram River near Forestry Road	75	2%	72 in 1981
North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton	2612	10 -20%	5800 in 1915
North Saskatchewan River near Rocky Mountain House	2420	1%	4110 in 1915
Prairie Creek near Rocky Mountain House	212	Less than 1%	131 in 1999

Red Deer River Basin

Station Name	Peak water flow (m³/s)	% chance of this flood occurring in any given year	Highest or next highest peak water flow on record (m³/s)
Bearberry Creek near Sundre	227	1 - 2%	123 in 1992
James River near Sundre	685	Less than 1%	237 in 1990
Little Red Deer River near the Mouth	452	Less than 1%	173 in 1970
Raven River near Raven	91	Less than 1%	39 in 1999
Red Deer River at Drumheller	1450	2 - 5%	1260 in 1920
Red Deer River at Red Deer	1510	1%	1930 in 1915
Red Deer River below Burnt Timber Ck.	1220	Less than 1%	693 in 1990

Bow River Basin

Station Name	Peak water flow (m³/s)	% chance of this flood occurring in any given year	Highest or next highest peak water flow on record (m³/s)
Bow River at Banff	174	Greater than 50%	399 in 1923
Bow River at Calgary	791	10%	1520 in 1932
Bow River below Carseland Dam	1980	Less than 1%	1690 in 1995
Bow River at Lake Louise	34	Greater than 50%	71 in 1974
Bow River near the Mouth	1640	Less than 1%	1570 in 1995
Cataract Creek near Forestry Road	39	20%	198 in 1995
Elbow River below Glenmore Dam	301	5%	980 in 1879
Elbow River at Bragg Creek	308	10%	980 in 1879
Fish Creek near Priddis	482	Less than 1%	200 1915
Highwood River at Diebel's Ranch	173	10 – 20%	661 in 1995
Highwood River below Little Bow Canal	671	1 – 2%	803 in 1995
Highwood River near the Mouth	1340	Less than 1%	1120 in 1995
Pekisko Creek near Longview	119	1%	100 in 1995
Sheep River at Black Diamond	380	4%	366 in 1995
Stimson Creek near Pekisko	135	Less than 1%	99 in 1995
Threepoint Creek near Millarville	389	Less than 1%	283 in 1967

Oldman River Basin

Station Name	Peak water flow (m³/s)	% chance of this flood occurring in any given year	Highest or next highest peak water flow on record (m³/s)
Oldman River near Waldron's Corner	442	1– 2%	1320 in 1995
Crowsnest River at Frank	59	10%	135 in 1995
Castle River at Beaver Mines	206	10%	1430 in 1995
Pincher Creek at Pincher Creek	100	2%	271 in 1995
Chain Lakes Reservoir Inflow * based on mean daily data	180	2 – 5%	270 in 1995
Willow Creek at Oxly Ranch	700	Less than 1%	504 in 1995
Willow Creek near Claresholm	694	Less than 1%	498 in 1995
Willow Creek at Highway 811	761	Less than 1%	592 in 1953
Waterton River near Waterton Park	122	20 – 50%	734 in 1908
Drywood Creek near the mouth	74	10%	425 in 1995
Waterton River near Glenwood	380	10 - 20%	1090 in 1995
Belly River near Mountain View	74	10 - 20%	464 in 1964
Belly River near Glenwood	99	20%	570 in 1995
Lee Creek at Cardston	173	2%	323 in 1964
St. Mary River near Lethbridge	421	5%	731 in 1975
Prairie Blood Coulee near Lethbridge	63	Less than 1%	32 in 2002
Oldman River near Lethbridge	2,550	2%	4670 in 1995
Mosquito Creek near the Mouth	66	Less than 1%	60 in 1996
Little Bow River at Carmangay	30	2 - 5%	106 in 1958
South Saskatchewan River at Medicine Hat	3,790	2 - 5%	5110 in 1995
Milk River at Western Crossing	35	20%	225 in 1964
Milk River at Milk River	79	10 - 20 %	279 in 1986
Milk River at Eastern Crossing	83	20 - 50%	408 in 2002

For technical enquires about this web page please contact Alberta Environment - Environmental Management Water Management Operations Branch at AENV-WebWS@gov.ab.ca

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Alberta Environment flood estimates

North Saskatchewan River Basin

Red Deer River Basin

Bow River Basin

Oldman River Basin