Hydrology: River discharge and level

This fact sheet describes the hydrology of the lower Winnipeg River basin (LWRB), focusing on river discharge, water levels, and the role of hydroelectric generating stations. It provides historical discharge data, climate projections for the 2050s, and discusses the river's contribution to Lake Winnipeg's water volume and nutrient loading.

• The mean annual discharge of the Winnipeg River at the Pine Falls Generating system from 1987 to 2016 was 1,008 ± 294 m3/s, with peaks typically occurring in June and July. The river is a major contributor to Lake Winnipeg, accounting for 49% of the mean monthly discharge of all rivers and streams entering the lake.
• The lower Winnipeg River basin (LWRB) contains six run-of-river hydroelectric generating stations: Pointe du Bois, Slave Falls, Seven Sisters, McArthur Falls, Great Falls, and Pine Falls. These stations have a combined electrical capacity of 583 MW, which provides approximately 10% of the energy needs for the province of Manitoba.
• Climate projections for the 2050s suggest a median increase of 6.9% for mean annual precipitation and 3.3% for runoff into the Winnipeg River basin, which may impact downstream nutrient loading.
• Water levels at four hydrometric stations along the river are relatively constant with low variability, although Nutimik Lake shows seasonal trends. While run-of-the-river stations may increase the surface area of the forebay, they have a negligible impact on discharge.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2021). Hydrology: River discharge and level. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-3-hydrology.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Hydrology: River discharge and level. 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-3-hydrology.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Hydrology: River discharge and level |date=May 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-3-hydrology.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2021hydrology, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Hydrology: River discharge and level}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-3-hydrology.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }