Starting Feb. 1, Alberta Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz said negotiations would begin with major water licence holders to secure "significant and timely reductions in water use."
"This effort will be the largest water-sharing negotiation to have ever occurred in Alberta's history. I want to thank licence holders for coming to the table — your generosity, ingenuity and participation in this effort reflects the very best of our province," Schulz said.
Irrigation made up a little more than 73 per cent of water allocation in the Bow River sub-basin and a little more than 83 per cent of water in the Old Man sub-basin as of 2020, according to figures from Alberta Environment and Parks.
This map shows Alberta's 11 irrigation districts, which are in the South Saskatchewan River Basin.
Shannon Frank, executive director of the Oldman Watershed Council, said water sharing agreements will be critical in the months ahead so as to ensure that no one loses access to water.
"The major water users, the irrigation districts in particular, have committed to making sure that there's access, especially for human health and livestock first," Frank said. "Crops have to take the third seat if there's not enough."
Frank said she didn't want to sugarcoat the situation ahead, as it's likely to be a challenging year. There will potentially be lower crop yields, which will impact the economy.
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"This effort will be the largest water-sharing negotiation to have ever occurred in Alberta's history. I want to thank licence holders for coming to the table — your generosity, ingenuity and participation in this effort reflects the very best of our province," Schulz said.
- Irrigation — the supply of water to the agricultural sector via a network of canals — is a significant user of the province's water, and negotiations with irrigation districts will be a key plank as a part of these upcoming negotiations. Alberta has the largest irrigated area in Canada, most of which is located within the province's 11 irrigation districts in southern Alberta along the South Saskatchewan River Basin.
Irrigation made up a little more than 73 per cent of water allocation in the Bow River sub-basin and a little more than 83 per cent of water in the Old Man sub-basin as of 2020, according to figures from Alberta Environment and Parks.
This map shows Alberta's 11 irrigation districts, which are in the South Saskatchewan River Basin.
Shannon Frank, executive director of the Oldman Watershed Council, said water sharing agreements will be critical in the months ahead so as to ensure that no one loses access to water.
"The major water users, the irrigation districts in particular, have committed to making sure that there's access, especially for human health and livestock first," Frank said. "Crops have to take the third seat if there's not enough."
Frank said she didn't want to sugarcoat the situation ahead, as it's likely to be a challenging year. There will potentially be lower crop yields, which will impact the economy.
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