Calgary lowers Glenmore Reservoir as Neige raises Bow River to 400
Neige and heavy precipitation have pushed the Bow River to about 400 cubic metres per second in Calgary, well above its usual 150 for this time of year. In Canmore, officials have closed a trail along the Bow River after water spilled into wooded areas, while Calgary has lowered the Glenmore Reservoir by about 1 metre over the last few days.
Calgary lowers the Glenmore Reservoir
Frank Frigo, the City of Calgary’s environmental management lead, said the Bow River was elevated but not at a level expected to cause major flooding beyond the banks. He also said Calgary opened some gates out of caution, taking into account the environment, recreation and water supply.
Frigo said in French, “Nous sommes à des niveaux élevés, mais rien qui ne risque de provoquer des inondations importantes au-delà des rives.” He added, “Nous avons ouvert quelques vannes par prudence, en tenant compte de l’environnement, des loisirs et de l’approvisionnement en eau.”
The Bow’s current flow is still far below the 1500 to 1600 cubic metres per second recorded during the 2013 flood, but it is high enough to keep Calgary and Canmore in active surveillance mode. The City of Calgary’s decision to lower the Glenmore Reservoir gives operators more room to manage incoming water as spring runoff and rain continue to feed the system.
Canmore trail closure on the Bow
In Canmore, a trail along the Bow River is closed because of high river levels, and water has overflowed into wooded areas in the region. The Elbow River is also being watched closely: it is flowing at about 30 cubic metres per second at Bragg Creek and about 40 cubic metres per second at the Glenmore Reservoir inlet.
John Pomeroy, a hydrologist at the University of Saskatchewan, said cooling temperatures had sharply reduced melt in Banff National Park and at high elevations. “Cela a pratiquement arrêté la fonte dans le parc national Banff et dans les hautes altitudes,” he said.
Flood defenses since 2013
About $1.3 billion has been invested by three levels of government since 2013 to reduce flood damage potential, and Frigo said those projects and operating changes have eliminated about 71% of the damage potential that existed in 2013. That work includes the Springbank diversion reservoir on the Elbow River, new gates on the Glenmore Dam, and flood barriers in West Eau Claire, Memorial Drive and the Calgary Zoo.
For residents and operators along the Bow and Elbow rivers, that leaves a narrower margin to manage each new surge, but also a stronger set of defenses than existed before the 2013 flood. Calgary and Canmore are still monitoring river levels closely as snowmelt and precipitation continue to shape conditions on both waterways.
