There are 3 Options for Flood Mitigation on the Bow River and None of Them Will Be Easy -

This was the heading for a recent article - See www.cbc.ca.../bow-river-mitigation-plans-five-years .  However there is a FAST, SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE Solution.  The government should negotiate significantly lower reservoir levels in the Bow reservoirs when there is the danger of flooding.  Plus these alternatives:  The Tri-River Joint Reservoir of Alberta option would contribute to the solution.  The TRJR operation will control and manage the flow rate and water level in three rivers that cause damaging floods (Elbow, Sheep and Highwood), from a central location upstream.  In this option, water levels would be lowered in the three rivers of Elbow, Sheep and Highwood for a short period of time during the flood season, in tandem with lowering the water level at the reservoirs that are managed by Transalta (Ghost Lake, Barrier Lake, Cascade, Spray Lakes, Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes) on the Bow River.  This would contribute in minimizing the negative flood impact of all these rivers.  All Transalta Contracts will Expire in a Year, Which Opens the Door for a New Negotiation.