TransAlta, a power generation and wholesale marketing company, has entered into a five-year agreement with the Government of Alberta to manage water on the Bow River at its Ghost reservoir facility to help flood mitigation efforts, as well as its Kananaskis Lakes system for drought mitigation efforts. This deal builds on the initial tests from 2014 and 2015 in which water levels at Ghost reservoir were reduced during the high runoff season to offer additional flood water storage. This five-year agreement enables flood storage similar to 2015 operations but now also includes drought mitigation opportunities through use of the Kananaskis Lakes system. The system will operate round the year to offer available water when the government calls for it. A call for water usually would occur in late summer/early fall during a dry year.
