Our Watershed

Your Watershed

The Red Deer River watershed is home to approximately 300,000 people and covers an area of 49,650 square kilometres in central Alberta.

The Red Deer River watershed is also made of 15 smaller sub-watersheds – or “bite-sized” areas that nest within the larger watershed. These sub-watersheds include a rich diversity of lakes, wetlands, creeks, tributaries, and the lands that surround them. Land uses and the natural areas in the Red Deer River watershed form a mosaic of interacting landscape elements; a reminder that water and land are intimately connected.

The Red Deer River’s headwaters are in the Skoki Valley of Banff National Park and the river then flows eastward over 724 km to join the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatchewan.

The South Saskatchewan River then continues through the Saskatchewan river system to Lake Winnipeg, en route to Hudson’s Bay.

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The Red Deer River near Sundre, Alberta
Upper Headwaters Zone
Upper Headwaters Zone
Lower Headwaters Zone
Lower Headwaters Zone
Central Agricultural Zone
Central Agricultural Zone
Central Urbanizing Zone
Central Urbanizing Zone
Dry Grasslands Zone
Dry Grasslands Zone

Did You Know?

The watershed’s one major dam – Dickson Dam – is used primarily for flow regulation and is located upstream of the City of Red Deer.

The Red Deer River occupies 8% of Alberta’s landmass, or 49,650 km.

Agriculture makes up approximately 53% of human footprint in the watershed, Approximately X% of the water yield for the basin is generated in the upper headwaters zone.

Traverses 5 Natural Regions- Rocky Mountains, Foothills, Boreal, Parkland, and Grassland.

There are 15 smaller sub-watersheds – or “bite-sized” areas that nest within the larger watershed.

There are 55 urban and 18 rural municipalities in the basin.

The watershed’s one major dam – Dickson Dam – is used primarily for flow regulation and is located upstream of the City of Red Deer.
The Red Deer River watershed occupies 8% of Alberta’s landmass, or 49,650 km2.
Agriculture makes up approximately 53% of human footprint in the watershed.
Traverses 5 Natural Regions- Rocky Mountains, Foothills, Boreal, Parkland, and Grassland.
There are 15 smaller sub-watersheds – or “bite-sized” areas that nest within the larger watershed.
The watershed includes 54 urban municipalities, including two major cities: Red Deer and Brooks.
The watershed is home to 20 counties and specialized municipalities.
Over 50% of the total water yield in the Red Deer River originates from snow and rain in the Rocky Mountains and Upper Foothills.
Related Pages

State of the Watershed

Watershed Resources

Maps