Potential reservoir near Red Deer could be first of many new water projects for Alberta, expert says

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Alberta’s decision to explore a new water reservoir west of Red Deer could be a harbinger of future water projects, as temperatures make the region more hospitable for agriculture, an expert says.

The Alberta government announced Monday that it’s assessing the feasibility of a new reservoir on the Red Deer River near Ardley — a hamlet with a population of 16 about 50 kilometres east of Red Deer.

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The announcement comes in a year of historic water-sharing agreements amid extreme drought conditions, which still persist in areas between Calgary and Edmonton.

The study will investigate the benefits a new reservoir would bring to farmers, ranchers, businesses and communities downstream.

Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz said in a statement that a reservoir in the area would keep central Alberta “communities and industries growing for years to come,” while Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson said the study will explore a “broad range” of water management infrastructure options.

How the potential water supply would be used is unclear, based on the government’s early plans. However, longer warm seasons in northern regions of Alberta are making such reservoirs more viable because those environments are beginning to support more agricultural activity, said Alain Pietroniro, a University of Calgary professor who specializes in hydrology and sustainable water systems.

“They’re not going to be growing grapes, but I think the hotter summers . . . the longer durations we have make different crops more feasible,” Pietroniro said.

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Most agriculture around or north of Red Deer’s latitude is dryland farming, he said, and the Red Deer River is a strong candidate to pull water from for irrigation, he said, as flows remain relatively high compared to regions in southern Alberta that saw water tables reach alarmingly low levels in the spring.

“It sort of spurs the investment in the region because people recognize they can’t rely on the natural ebb and flow of the river for irrigation . . . by storing water you can manage it a lot better,” Pietroniro said.

The announcement comes amid drought that has persisted in swaths of the province, despite moderate levels of precipitation throughout spring and summer. In preparation for potential droughts, the provincial government announced water-sharing agreements, while several sub-basins began the spring with alarmingly low water levels.

A new reservoir would be a “boon” for the area surrounding Delburne, a village just south of Ardley, said Mayor Tim Wilson. Delburne’s 920 residents are currently under water restrictions urging them to limit the watering of lawns and gardens to less than 30 minutes a day, and to avoid using power washers.

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Wilson said the restrictions are precautionary so the town doesn’t “end up in a situation where we can’t supply enough water.” He said he’s become increasingly concerned about water shortages hitting his town and, should the reservoir be used for residential consumption, could help stabilize the town’s supply.

“We don’t have to re-create the wheel, but we need to start paying attention to our usage,” he said.

Dominated by agriculture as its main industry, Wilson said farmers in the area are constantly beholden to the whims of nature.

Likewise, Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood said in light of recent drought conditions, a new reservoir and dam could provide major benefits in the form of hydroelectric generation and a stable water source for agricultural producers. While some farmers have survived this season, many have continued to suffer for yet another year because of temperamental weather patterns, he said.

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“Some farmers have been able to get a to get a, nice dump of moisture, a nice rain. And the next farmer — even down the road — may not have got any,” said Wood, a farmer himself in the county. “We’ve seen quite a variation of crops this year in this region.”

The most recent drought has hurtled into view the potentially drastic implications those conditions can have on agriculture, he said, making the study all the more pertinent.

“I’m glad that someone is actually taking a hard look at at the importance of looking after the water in our province … I can see a pile of benefit to this.”

Given the increasingly warm conditions in northern Alberta, Pietroniro said he expects similar announcements exploring potential reservoirs in the near future.

“I think there are going to be a few more of these coming down the road.”

mscace@postmedia.com
X: @mattscace67

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