Fisherman, farmers, ecologists and even city officials have one thing in common – they rely on the information Scott Campbell’s team gathers in the mountains.
Winter brought a fair amount of snow to the mountains and Campbell’s team, part of Alberta Environment and Parks, keeps a close watch on the spring thaw.
What melts in the mountains can have a big impact on the areas below. Campbell and his crew said the snow depths this year are a far cry from the last few very dry years in southern Alberta.
“I think we are sitting at about 120 per cent to 130 per cent here right now and last year this time we were probably around 75 per cent or less,” Campbell added.
The forecast is based on a number of elements taken from the snow; the depth and weight provide the water content.
There are nine different locations in the Oldman River Basin that are surveyed, on average, six times a year.
“We do the same sites every time and do the same spots at the same time of the month. We have a 10-day window each month that we can do this in so we have continuity in our data,” Campbell said.
The level of snow in the mountains is only one indicator of potential flooding, but it does help plan for the possibility in high-risk areas.
For irrigation users, fisheries and water treatment plants who have dealt with very low levels in the past, the news of higher levels might be music to their ears.
“Shouldn’t be any water shortages this year,” Campbell said.
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