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EDMONTON — Alberta is heading into summer with significantly improved river conditions across much of the province after strong mountain snowpack and spring storms replenished water supplies following years of drought concerns.
The province’s May Water Supply Outlook forecasts above-normal or well-above-normal river volumes through September for major river basins including the North Saskatchewan, Red Deer and Bow rivers, along with most parts of the Oldman River basin.
Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter said the improved outlook marks a major shift from the dry conditions experienced in recent years.
“Most of Alberta is heading into the summer season in a much better situation than we’ve seen in recent years,” Hunter said in a statement.
“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.”
The province says conditions improved after multiple spring snowstorms added moisture across much of Alberta while mountain snowpack levels in the Rockies climbed well above seasonal averages.
According to the report, 92 per cent of surveyed mountain snowpack sites recorded above-normal or well-above-normal conditions in early May, while 15 per cent posted the highest snowpack levels ever recorded at those locations.
Reservoir storage levels in southern Alberta are also reported to be in strong condition, with above-normal storage in the Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan river basins.
The positive outlook comes as Alberta continues recovering from widespread drought conditions that affected agriculture, municipal water supplies and industry operations across parts of the province in recent years.
The province conducts mountain snowpack surveys monthly between February and June and uses the data to forecast water supplies across central and southern Alberta through the summer months.
Despite the broader improvement, officials say concerns remain in Alberta’s far south.
The Milk River basin is forecast to experience well-below-normal river volumes through September after early runoff was largely absorbed into dry soil conditions before reaching waterways.
The province says low flows in the Milk River have already affected irrigation operations due to water-sharing obligations under the Canada-U.S. Boundary Waters Treaty.
Under the agreement, Canada receives 25 per cent of the river’s natural flow during irrigation season.
Officials say Canada was already in a water deficit position relative to the United States by the end of April and that natural flows on the river had nearly disappeared by early May.
The Town of Milk River’s household water supply is not affected by irrigation restrictions.
Current provincial drought monitoring shows more than half of Alberta’s major river basins are now classified at Stage 0, meaning no drought conditions.
The Milk River basin remains under Stage 3 drought conditions, while several southern basins including the Oldman and South Saskatchewan remain at Stage 2.
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