March snowstorms are raising hopes for a moist spring in southern
Alberta.
“We’re cautiously optimistic,” said Stan Klassen of the Alberta
Irrigation Projects Association.
Although mountain snowpacks are showing improvement, Klassen estimated
that irrigation reservoirs need 150 percent of average snowfall to
return to normal levels.
Mountain snow is a major source of water for Alberta reservoirs. Snow
accumulations at this time of the year account for nearly
three-quarters of the seasonal total.
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Runoff in most of the river basins is still likely to be low unless
significant amounts of snow and rain arrive in the next two months.
Alberta Environment reports that snow accumulation in the mountains as
of March 1, 2002 is near average for this time of the year with the
exception of the headwaters of the Oldman River basin, which is below
average. However, the Highwood and Kananaskis headwaters are above
average for this time of the year.
Snow accumulations in the Bow River basin are one and a half times the
seasonal maximum recorded last year.
Accumulations in the North Saskatchewan and Athabasca River headwaters
are near average.
As of March 1, plains snowpack is below average to much below average
along the eastern portions of the province and is less than what was on
the ground last year at this time.
In western regions stretching from Grande Prairie, Sundre, Calgary and
Pincher Creek, snowpacks are near average with the exception of the
Edson-Rocky Mountain House area, which is much below average.
Most of northern Alberta has below average snowpack including the
Edmonton, Slave Lake, Cold Lake, High Level and Fort Chipewyan areas.
