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Many areas in Alberta are dealing with drought conditions, particularly in the southern part of the province. The Alberta government will continue to carefully monitor snowpack, precipitation, river levels and other key data to ensure drought conditions are well understood and all water users and Albertans have the information they need to be prepared.
Alberta is currently in stage 4 (out of 5) in its water shortage management response plan.
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Status of water-sharing agreements (July 25, 2024)
Current status of agreements as of July 18, 2024:
- Red Deer River basin – not activated
- Bow River basin – not activated
- Oldman South Saskatchewan River basin – activated
- Southern tributaries – activated
Water-sharing agreements for the South Saskatchewan River Basin are designed to promote collaboration in real-time. Every two weeks until the end of the growing season, the water supply forecast in the 4 sub-basins where a water-sharing agreement applies will be reassessed and the agreement signatories will decide how to adjust their water use, and whether to activate the agreements.
- Learn more: Water-sharing agreements
A summary of the most recent bi-weekly meeting of agreement signatories can be found below. For previous meeting summaries, contact [email protected].
- Water-sharing agreement meeting report (July 18, 2024)
At the end of June, seven irrigation districts increased their irrigation allocations for the season. Details on the areas affected and the new allocations in these districts are shown on the map below.
The next decision point for water-sharing agreement signatories will be August 1. On this day, agreement signatories will decide which agreements need to be activated and how much water will be available for use by the signatories over the next two-week period. To support these decisions, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas will provide signatories with water supply data and information. This information may also be used by other water users to inform their water conservation measures.
- Bi-weekly water-sharing agreement data set (July 17, 2024)
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Advisories (July 25, 2024)
As of July 25, there are 34 water shortage advisories in place for select water management areas across Alberta.
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Water supply outlook (July 4, 2024)
Based on monthly snowpack survey data (collected from February 1 to June 1), Alberta produces a water supply outlook that estimates the total runoff volume for 20 locations in southern and central Alberta. The water supply outlook is typically published during the second week of the month.
The July water supply outlook is a long-term river volume forecast for the period from July through September.
Compared to last year, June 2024 precipitation was better in most areas, except in the Pincher Creek to Milk River corridor in the Oldman basin, the upper Red Deer River basin, and the upper North Saskatchewan River basin. Highlights of the July water supply outlook are below:
- Milk River basin – Forecasts are below average to well below average.
- Oldman River basin – Forecasts are all below average, with the St. Mary River expected to be well below average.
- Bow River basin – Forecasts are average, with the exception of the Kananaskis River which is expected to be below average.
- Red Deer River basin – Forecasts are average.
- North Saskatchewan River basin – The upper part of the basin (at Lake Abraham) is forecasted to be average but below average flows are expected in Edmonton.
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Snowpack (June 6, 2024)
Alberta conducts mountain snowpack surveys monthly from February 1 to June 1 (the Milk River basin is also surveyed in early January). The data is published monthly in the water supply outlook.
In addition to the monthly snowpack surveys, the Alberta River Basins web application and the Alberta Rivers app provides automated snow pillow data from 18 sites, mostly in the mountains and foothills.
June snowpack survey results
Of the 16 June snow surveys completed by government, 12 had average or above average measurements. Fewer sites are surveyed in June because snowpack only remains at higher elevations. These are the final snowpack surveys for the year.
- Oldman River basin – One site surveyed (Akamina Pass 2) had no snow remaining but average for this time of year is only 25 millimetres.
- Bow River basin – All 12 sites surveyed were within the normal range or above.
- Red Deer River basin – Both surveys were within the normal range or above. Gable Mountain was the 4th highest in 42 years.
- North Saskatchewan River basin – One site was surveyed (Limestone) and was the 2nd highest on record.
- Athabasca River basin snow surveys – No locations are surveyed in June.
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River levels (July 25, 2024)
Alberta’s river monitoring network includes over 450 gauges that report near real-time data via the Alberta River Basins web application and the Alberta Rivers app during the open water season.
Notable measurements as of July 25 at 9 am
- St. Mary River at the international boundary – 30.4 m³/s, which is within the normal range for this time of year.
- Waterton River near Waterton Park – 14.2 m³/s, which is at the bottom end of the normal range for this time of year.
- Oldman River near Lethbridge – 20.6 m³/s, which is below the normal range for this time of year.
- South Saskatchewan River at Medicine Hat – 66.4 m³/s, which is below the normal range for this time of year.
- Sheep River at Okotoks – 6.5 m³/s, which is within the normal range for this time of year.
- Bow River at Calgary – 154 m³/s, which is within the normal range for this time of year.
- Red Deer River at Red Deer – 45.7 m³/s, which is within the normal range for this time of year.
- North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton – 228 m³/s, which is at the bottom end of the normal range for this time of year.
- Wapiti River near Grande Prairie – 46.3 m³/s, which is below the normal range for this time of year.
- Peace River at Peace River – 1,230 m³/s, which is below the normal range for this time of year.
- Athabasca River below Fort McMurray – 680 m³/s, which is below the normal range for this time of year.
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Reservoir levels (July 25, 2024)
Water levels in major southern Alberta reservoirs owned and operated by the Alberta government are shown below.
- Oldman Reservoir – Current storage is 87%. Normal for this time of year is between 88% and 97%.
- St. Mary Reservoir – Current storage is 88%. Normal for this time of year is between 81% and 94%.
- Pine Coulee Reservoir – Current storage is 74%. Normal for this time of year is between 69% and 98%.
- Waterton Reservoir – Current storage is 95%. Normal for this time of year is between 80% and 93%.
Gleniffer Reservoir (Dickson Dam) – Current storage is 92%. Normal for this time of year is between 86% and 91%
Water storage volumes in the major irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs of the Milk, Oldman, Bow, Red Deer, North Saskatchewan, and Athabasca River basins are updated each weekday and available in the Provincial Reservoir Storage Summary.
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Soil moisture (July 25, 2024)
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation produces a soil moisture report periodically during the winter months, with frequency increasing during the growing season.
- Soil moisture report (July 25, 2024)
Get more right on your phone
Advisories, snowpack and river conditions, reservoir data, forecast details and more are available right on your smartphone via the Alberta Rivers app.
Download for:
Photo gallery
Slideshow: Impacts of water shortage in southern Alberta
![Blue water body surrounded by land, rocks and dirt](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-boat-launch-at-waterline-oldman-rec-area.jpg?itok=8mC6Kiwb)
Boat launch at the Oldman Reservoir Public Recreation Area (November 2023)
![Oldman provincial recreation area boat launch - rocky and sandy area with vehicles in the background](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-boat-launch-oldman-rec-area.jpg?itok=QGvnciCf)
Boat launch at the Oldman Reservoir Public Recreation Area (November 2023)
![Boat launch ramp on a rocky area with hills and water in the background](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-island-view-day-use-area-boat-launch.jpg?itok=5ruHRmCI)
Boat launch at the Island View day use area on the Oldman Reservoir (November 2023)
![Cowley water intakes, Oldman River - River surrounded by flat green land with clouds and mountains in the background](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-cowley-water-intakes-oldman-river.jpg?itok=wDctfNkv)
Oldman River at the west end of the Oldman Reservoir. The pipes on either side of the water are the intakes for the Cowley regional drinking water system. These intakes have been out of the water since July 2023. (November 2023)
![View from a bridge of the Crowsnest river surrounded by flat green land with evergreen trees along the side](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-crowsnest-river.jpg?itok=X_hDz2MV)
Crowsnest River at Highway 510 (November 2023)
![Oldman Reservoir - silt plain with the river running through it](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-oldman-reservoir-silt-plain.jpg?itok=pvWkPvFV)
Oldman Reservoir – silt plain with the river running through it (November 2023)
![Oldman River Dam Provincial Recreation Area - water surrounded by rocks and dirt, wind turbines in the distance](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-windy-point-oldman-dam-provincial-rec-area.jpg?itok=ap1Sq7S7)
Oldman River Dam Provincial Recreation Area near Windy Point (December 2023)
![St. Mary’s Reservoir from the boat launch dock - view looking down from wooden staircase down at the St. Mary's reservoir in the distance](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-st-marys-reservoir.jpg?itok=WeA-dwzt)
St. Mary’s Reservoir from the boat launch dock (November 2023)
![Willow Creek surrounded by rocks and trees](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-willow-creek.jpg?itok=iFryaYPu)
Willow Creek near Fort McLeod
![Photo of the Oldman Reservoir near the Island View day use area](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-oldman-reservoir-near-the-island-view-day-use-area.jpeg?itok=8uTNtygy)
Oldman Reservoir near the Island View day use area (December 2024)
![Photo of Oldman Reservoir near the Island View day use area](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-oldman-reservoir-near-the-island-view-day-use-area-3.jpeg?itok=dklzyk64)
Oldman Reservoir near the Island View day use area (December 2024)
![Photo of Receding water levels in Zama Lake in northwestern Alberta](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-receding-water-levels-in-zama-lake-in-northwestern-alberta.jpg?itok=sSTlJdSd)
Receding water levels in Zama Lake in northwestern Alberta (December 2024)
![Crowsnest River/Oldman Reservoir](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-crowsnest-river-oldman-reservoir-downstream-hwy-510.jpg?itok=LjmJeKER)
Crowsnest River/Oldman Reservoir, downstream of secondary Highway 510 (May 2024)
![Peace River, Sagitawa Lookout near the confluence with the Smoky River](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-peace-river-sagitawa-lookout.jpg?itok=c-wvkQTQ)
Peace River, Sagitawa Lookout near the confluence with the Smoky River (June 2024)
![Cooking Lake](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-cooking-lake.jpg?itok=fhMttC0h)
Cooking Lake (June 2024)
![St. Mary Reservoir, near the face of the dam](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-st-mary-reservoir-near-face-of-dam.jpg?itok=z6emrQ3M)
St. Mary Reservoir, near the face of the dam (May 2024)
![Aerial view of the Oldman Reservoir](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-aerial-view-oldman-dam-reservoir.jpg?itok=sboQaEqd)
Aerial view of the Oldman Reservoir (June 2024)
![South Saskatchewan River west of Medicine Hat](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-south-saskatchewan-river-twp-145a.jpg?itok=4Q0v10rp)
South Saskatchewan River west of Medicine Hat (June 2024)
![Willow Creek](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-willow-creek-lnid-flume-metering-site.jpg?itok=q6tswDq5)
Willow Creek (June 2024)
![Peace River at the La Crete Ferry approach](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-peace-river-at-la-crete-ferry-approach.jpg?itok=5bA94atc)
Peace River at the La Crete Ferry approach (June 2024)
![Athabasca River at the Highway 2 bridge](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-athabasca-river-hwy-2-bridge.jpg?itok=kdY6qLTR)
Athabasca River at the Highway 2 bridge (June 2024)
![Notikewin River near Manning](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-notikewin-river-near-manning.jpg?itok=j6Pjeyku)
Notikewin River near Manning (June 2024)
![Peace River from the Lower West Peace boat launch](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-peace-river-from-lower-west-peace-boat-launch.jpg?itok=F23W6QCb)
Peace River from the Lower West Peace boat launch (June 2024)
![Peace River from the south side of the Normand Boucher Community Arboretum](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-peace-river-from-south-side-normand-boucher.jpg?itok=ugvUTIug)
Peace River from the south side of the Normand Boucher Community Arboretum (June 2024)
![Wapiti River near Highway 40](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-wapiti-river-hwy-40.jpg?itok=vh0ZcGLo)
Wapiti River near Highway 40 (June 2024)
![Smoky River near Highway 43](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-smoky-river-hwy-43.jpg?itok=eGLVNRAy)
Smoky River near Highway 43 (June 2024)
![Keho Reservoir in Lethbridge County](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-keho-reservoir-lethbridge-county.jpg?itok=TlMbF6DD)
Keho Reservoir in Lethbridge County (June 2024)
![Oldman River at the Lethbridge North Irrigation District diversion](/system/files/styles/gallery_image/private/epa-oldman-river-lnid-diversion.jpg?itok=Jbpr5rrY)
Oldman River at the Lethbridge North Irrigation District diversion (June 2024)
Contact
Connect with Environment and Protected Areas’ Outreach Services:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 310-3773 (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]