Rainfall on the Prairies is much greater this year than last, though water expert Phillip Harder warns against setting high hopes for a continuing positive situation. “2023 winter, so Oct. 1 up until April 15, we had 140 millimetres of precipitation,” said Harder, research associate at the Global Institute for Water Security at the University […] Read more
Tag Archives snowpack
Alberta to study snowpack with more accuracy
Province will work with the University of Lethbridge to combine on-the-ground measurements with airborne LiDAR
Glacier FarmMedia – The Alberta government is working with a research team at the University of Lethbridge to measure the snowpack in southern Alberta more accurately, according to a news release. The measurements will help guide water management policies and practices as the province works to better manage its water resources. For seven months of […] Read more
Sask. expects little runoff
REGINA — Saskatchewan producers could experience another drought year in 2024, according to the Water Security Agency’s preliminary runoff report. Spring runoff is expected to be well below normal in most of the province. Snowpack accumulation has been minimal and as of Feb. 1 the entire province is rated well below normal for anticipated runoff […] Read more
Most Alberta river flows within normal range
MEDICINE HAT — Water levels on the Bow River from Calgary to the mouth of the South Saskatchewan River are running within normal seasonal ranges as of mid-February and the Red Deer River is also flowing at average levels. Flow in the Oldman River continues to be below average. In a Feb. 12 update to […] Read more
Water expert warns of changes in runoff, demand
Canada Research Chair in Water Resources says mountain runoff in the future may come too soon for adequate capture
MEDICINE HAT — It will be increasingly difficult to predict conditions on southern Alberta rivers, according to John Pomeroy, and the University of Saskatchewan professor is confident that there will be changes to mountain runoff in coming years. Pomeroy, who also holds the title of Canada Research Chair in Water Resources and Climate Change, said […] Read more
Signs point to better weather
CALGARY — The weather cycle that brought drought to the Prairies during the past few years will slowly change for the better, a meteorologist predicts. However, Drew Lerner, president and senior agricultural meteorologist at World Weather, Inc., says there could be challenges ahead for producers. This year could be better for some farmers and ranchers […] Read more
Alberta farmers plan for dry conditions
The quick melt of the mountain snowpack during the spring of 2023 in Alberta combined with hot and dry temperatures throughout the growing season and dry early winter have left irrigators with little more than hope for improved conditions by spring 2024. Irrigation districts, the Alberta government and farmers along with other water stakeholders including […] Read more
Water shortage advisories in Alta.
A cooler spring and below average snowpack have set the stage for slower-than-normal mountain runoff
A cooler than normal spring coupled with a below average mountain snowpack has added to problems across the southern Alberta irrigation network.
