Above-average snowpack needed to bring water levels in southern Alberta back to normal
Water continues to be a hot commodity in southern Alberta as the seasons change.
“This was the sixth driest year on record in southern Alberta in the past 99 years, according to Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation,” said David Westwood, general manager of the St. Mary’s Irrigation District (SMRID).
While most crops are out of the ground, irrigation districts are reflecting on the possibility of another summer with drought-like conditions.
Canada’s largest irrigation district – the SMRID -- imposed a 15-inch per-acre allocation as a result of a low snow pack and precipitation this spring.
“As we saw the snowpack melt off extremely early - much earlier than normal - and the heat we had and the drought-like conditions we recognized that that forecast was not going to come to fruition and so we had to, unfortunately, reduce allocation two times,” Westwood explained.
Water levels in the Oldman Reservoir continue to be below average, according to the city.
In August, the city implemented a voluntary water conservation for residents as a way to ease the pressure on the river, while municipalities like the Town of Pincher Creek imposed water restrictions.
“The big concern right now is the starting point and the levels we’re at right now are quite low,” said Doug Kaupp, general manager of water and wastewater with the City of Lethbridge.
WORST IN 50 YEARS
He said the water situation hasn't looked this bad in the past 50 years.
“There is possibility of us needing to restrict our water use even in the winter time which is really hard to do compared to in the summer where we ask you to ease off on watering your lawn,” Kaupp said.
With below average snowpack in the Rockies and low precipitation over the past few years, experts said it'll take more than an average snowfall to bring water levels back to normal.
“Because of our warming climate, we have had many heat waves,"said Stefan Kienzle, an emeritus of hydrology professor at the University of Lethbridge’s department of geography and environment.
"And these heat waves result in very strong evaporation rates that suck the moisture out of the soil and aggravate the whole situation."
“So, even if we have a normal snow pack this winter" he added, "and we fill the reservoirs, we still have to anticipate that the evaporation rates remain high next year.”
MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY
The SMRID provides water to 504,000 acres of land supporting southern Alberta’s multi-billion dollar agriculture industry.
With winter ahead, Westwood said there are some concerns heading into next year, but it'll all depend on when the snow starts to fall.
“We need an above-average snowpack and some good precipitation events to be able to bring our systems and store levels both in the SMRID and Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Headworks Reservoirs back to more of an average level,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Stormy Daniels is expected to appear at Trump's hush money trial on Tuesday
Donald Trump returns to the hush money trial Tuesday facing a threat of jail time for additional gag order violations as prosecutors gear up to summon big-name witnesses including porn actor Stormy Daniels.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.