Water supply outlook for S. Sask. River downgraded for summer

By Medicine Hat News on June 3, 2021.

The water supply outlook for the South Saskatchewan River basin has been downgraded slightly for the coming summer, according to the latest forecasts from Alberta Environment and Parks.

Earlier predictions of an average to above average year on the Bow and Oldman systems (which form the South Saskatchewan) are now noted as below average to average in the long-term river forecasting for May.

The Oldman itself will likely see levels between 72 to 95 per cent of normal years, with the potential low as little as 62 per cent of an average year’s flow.

The Bow River at Calgary should be right on average.

The May to September outlook for the Milk River is more uncertain as anywhere from half to normal flow rate is likely at Milk River.

That sets the potential low this year into the bottom quarter of years over the past century.

Local outbreaks

Canadian Pacific operations in Medicine Hat have been added to a list of COVID-19 outbreaks in the South Health Zone.

The list published by the Alberta government also includes Meadow Ridge Seniors Village on Park Meadows Drive and the REDI group living home in Medicine Hat among 11 sites of outbreak across rural southern Alberta south of Calgary as of May 28.

Five schools in Medicine Hat still appear on listings for outbreaks or alerts in school across the province. An alert (denoting between two to four cases) is in place for Eagle Butte High School in Dunmore.

11
-10