Bow River no longer rising in Banff

Rocky Mountain Outlook

June 2, 2026

BOW VALLEY – The surging Bow River is no longer rising in the Banff townsite.

However, a high streamflow advisory was still in force for the Bow River from Banff to the Ghost Reservoir on Tuesday (June 2) because the river is still moving much faster than normal, with submerged logs and debris.

Read More

USask PhD candidate Alana Muenchrath receives the D.M. Gray Award for Best Student Paper in Hydrology

Centre for Hydrology

June 1

The D.M. Gray Award for Best Student Paper in Hydrology is a prestigious annual prize presented by the Hydrology Section of the Canadian Geophysical Union (CGU). It recognizes a student who delivers an outstanding oral presentation and paper based on original, high-significance hydrological research.

This year, it was awarded to Alana Muenchrath, a PhD candidate in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan, for her research focusing on understanding how a warming climate is driving permafrost thaw in the Northwest Territories.

“Permafrost landscapes are incredibly diverse across the North, so it’s important to understand how thaw processes differ across environments.” 

Alana’s recent research examines how hydrological processes and soil moisture influence permafrost thaw.

“Hydrology and permafrost are inextricably linked. To understand permafrost systems, we must also understand the role of water.”

Her work demonstrates how water movement can transfer energy through landscapes and influence patterns of permafrost thaw. By improving the representation of hydrological processes in permafrost models, her research will support more accurate projections of permafrost change and its implications for northern ecosystems, water resources, and communities. Alana works with Dr. Andrew Ireson and Dr. Chris Spence at the Global Institute for Water Security. 

Banff, Calgary urge caution along Bow River as water levels rise

CBC News

May 29, 2026

It is set to be a wet weekend across southern Alberta, with warnings about high water levels in the Bow River and the potential for flooding in Banff National Park. Saturday night could see some thunderstorm activity, with heavier rains falling Sunday through Monday and into Tuesday, said Christy Climenhaga, scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. Temperatures will also drop.

Read More

Centre for Hydrology PhD Student Receives Canadian Geophysical Union Hydrology Award

Zoë Johnson

May 27, 2026

University of Saskatchewan (USask) hydrology PhD student Zoë Johnson has received the Don Gray Scholarship in Canadian Hydrology. The award is given by the Canadian Geophysical Union (CGU) in honour of Dr. Donald Maurice Gray (1929‐2005), known as the “Father of Canadian Hydrology.” Johnson was received the award for her work on Prairie snow hydrology, building on Dr. Gray’s own research legacy in the field. Snow is a significant water resource for the Prairies, and climate change is affecting the processes driving its distribution, accumulation, and melt, with important implications for agriculture. The Prairies contain more than 80% of Canada’s farmed area and contribute over 90% of Canada’s grain exports.

“It is easy to overlook the importance of snow,” says Johnson. “Climate change is affecting many different snow-related processes all at once, and our research helps to understand the net impact on water management in the region.” The research is being undertaken in collaboration with Dr. Peter Lawford and Dr. John Pomeroy of the USask Centre for Hydrology.

Johnson’s doctoral research builds upon the project, looking at the wider implications of changing hydrology on water demand and management in Canadian mountain headwater basins.