This section of web pages has detailed documentation of the flood event that occurred in June of 2005. There are photos of the river and various access points in different stages of flood along with stream flow data for the flood events. Calgary received over 275 millimeters of rain - over11 inches - and set a new record for the month of June. The Bow at Carseland hit a stream flow of 1945 cms or just over 68,000 cfs.  Some field experiences of a Hydrometric Survey Technologist during June floods.

This massive water has certainly rearranged the river. Most changes won't be known until the water recedes. What is known is that the Policeman's Flats access point was completely flooded and what remains is a much smaller island. This is the folly of an access on the outside bend of a river. Other access points are yet to be assessed. Private user groups as well as the fishing community are engaging in ongoing discussions about how to repair or replace this access. As for the fishery, there will be some loss of the spring rainbow spawn and possibly some trout trapped as the water recedes.

Update - A land owner in the vicinity of Policeman's Flats has allowed a group of guides access on his land. This access is only available to this one group at the exclusion of the rest of the guiding community and the general public. The Gov't seems fine with this arrangement as nothing is being said. I'm told by the president of this group that there are no strings attached. This is not the case as the land owner has a development in the works and wants the support of this group. This isn't a string, it's a damn rope! 

Photos of Bow River and several access points from 22X down to Carseland.

June 16/05  Run off has been called a "200 year flood event" with two storm systems having dumped over 200 mm of rain. 

June 19/05  The cities of Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer are under a local state of emergency. Residential areas in Calgary along the Elbow River are under a mandatory evacuation.  

June 20/05  Waters receding. To view data and photos. Click Here.

June 22/05  The "real" TUC news release. Not what the media reported

June 23/05  The status of the Bow River fishery. Click Here 

June 24, 26, 27/05  Guides out  and hooked and landed trout.

June 28/05  More rain and rivers rising for the 3rd time. Click Here

June 30/05  Tour of access points. In the absence of any more storms it seems the flood event is winding down. 

Oct 2/05  The Gov't response to date. Click here