Alberta Environment’sAlberta Environment’sRiver Forecast CentreRiver Forecast Centre

Presentation to the UNSTABLE Workshop Presentation to the UNSTABLE Workshop

Edmonton, AlbertaEdmonton, AlbertaApril 18, 2007April 18, 2007

Ray Keller Ray Keller Team Leader, Flow ForecastingTeam Leader, Flow ForecastingWater Management OperationsWater Management Operations

North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton – June 2005North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton – June 2005

What River Forecasting DoesWhat River Forecasting Does

1.1. Real-time monitoring and reportingReal-time monitoring and reporting

2.2. Water Management Water Management

3.3. Infrastructure ManagementInfrastructure Management

4.4. Water Supply ForecastingWater Supply Forecasting

5.5. Flood ForecastingFlood Forecasting

1. What do we monitor and report?1. What do we monitor and report?

Real-time dataReal-time data

• Stream levels and flowsStream levels and flows

• Lake and reservoir levelsLake and reservoir levels

• PrecipitationPrecipitation

• SnowpackSnowpack

• Temperature, wind, humidityTemperature, wind, humidity

• Water qualityWater quality

Data NetworksData Networks

• Over Over 350350 Hydrometric Stations (Water Levels/Flows) Hydrometric Stations (Water Levels/Flows)

• Over Over 420420 Meteorologic Stations Meteorologic Stations • (AENV, EC, AAFRD, TransAlta, SRD)(AENV, EC, AAFRD, TransAlta, SRD)

• 117117 Snow Course Locations Snow Course Locations• 1515 Automated Snow PillowsAutomated Snow Pillows

Most stations (except snow courses) report hourly dataMost stations (except snow courses) report hourly dataCurrently takes Currently takes twotwo man days per day to QA/QC real-time data man days per day to QA/QC real-time data

Real-time Real-time Hydrometric StationsHydrometric Stations

• Over Over 350 350 currentlycurrently

• Stream, lake, reservoir levelsStream, lake, reservoir levels

• Satellite/phone linksSatellite/phone links

Real-time Real-time Meteorological StationsMeteorological Stations

~ 218 ~ 218 Federal and Federal and ProvincialProvincial

Hourly DataHourly Data• PrecipitationPrecipitation

• TemperatureTemperature

• Relative humidityRelative humidity

• Wind speedWind speed

ALBERTA

NORTH WEST TERRITORIES

SASK

ATC

HEW

AN

ALBE

RTA

ALBE

RTA

River

River

Bow

River

Provost

Camrose

Stettler

High Level

Jasper

Banff

Lesser Slave Lake

ColdLake

Athabasca

Lake

Grande Prairie

Peace River

Red Deer

Edmonton

Fort McMurray

Medicine Hat

Calgary

Lethbridge

Forestry Forestry Meteorological StationsMeteorological Stations

• ~ 190~ 190 stationsstations

• Mostly in northMostly in north

• Most report 2x-dailyMost report 2x-daily

• Some report 1x-dailySome report 1x-daily

Snow Course SitesSnow Course Sites

71 Plains

46 Mountain

U. S. A.

ColdLake

STETTLERPROVOST

CAMROSEJASPER

BANFF

River

Deer

RiverMilk

River

RiverNorth

Red

Saskatchewan

Battle

Lloydminster

Medicine Hat

Lethbridge

Red Deer

Calgary

Edmonton

SUNSHINE VILLAGE

LITTLE ELBOW

THREE ISLE LAKE MT. ODLUM III

TWIN LAKES

PADDLE RIVER HEADWATERS

LIMESTONE

AKAMINA

FLATTOP MANY GLACIER

SOUTH RACE HORSE

GARDINER HEADWATERS

LOST CREEK

SKOKI MOUNTAIN

Snow PillowsSnow Pillows

• 1313 Mountain SitesMountain Sites (new site at South Esk)(new site at South Esk)

• 33 Plains Area SitesPlains Area Sites (new site in Swan Hills)(new site in Swan Hills)

USESUSES• Snow-on-groundSnow-on-ground

• Snow / Rain indicatorsSnow / Rain indicators

• Melt ratesMelt rates

Oldman River at Lethbridge – June 2005Oldman River at Lethbridge – June 2005

How can UNSTABLE help?How can UNSTABLE help?

Variety of Flood ConditionsVariety of Flood Conditions

SnowmeltSnowmelt Plains - March - AprilPlains - March - April

• Only smaller streams affected (Paddle, Battle, Vermilion, etc)Only smaller streams affected (Paddle, Battle, Vermilion, etc)• Ice jamsIce jams

Mountains - May - JulyMountains - May - July• No flooding of major rivers by mountain snowmelt aloneNo flooding of major rivers by mountain snowmelt alone

RainfallRainfall• Affects all rivers in AlbertaAffects all rivers in Alberta• Flooding along major rivers is caused by heavy rainfall or heavy rainfall Flooding along major rivers is caused by heavy rainfall or heavy rainfall

during mountain snowmeltduring mountain snowmelt

Contributions to UNSTABLEContributions to UNSTABLE

• Current meteorological sites in areaCurrent meteorological sites in area• Proposed new sites for 2008 (approx. location)Proposed new sites for 2008 (approx. location)

OpportunitiesOpportunities

• Alberta Environment will share all data in areaAlberta Environment will share all data in area

• Opportunity to put additional sensors at existing locations if Opportunity to put additional sensors at existing locations if requiredrequired

• Very interested in results of studyVery interested in results of study• AENV is heavily reliant on accurate weather forecasting AENV is heavily reliant on accurate weather forecasting

for their functionsfor their functions

Questions?Questions?

Near Barrhead – March 2007Near Barrhead – March 2007