| Farmers south of Alberta's Oldman River are being forced to
ration irrigation water.
They are eligible for 200 millimetres of water for the
year, unlike a normal season in which they receive 450 mm.
Notification to water users was mailed April 19.
The irrigation water shortfall leaves farmers growing row
crops like sugar beets, potatoes, corn or beans in a bind as
they scramble to transfer water from low-value to higher value
crops.
"A lot of people are still trying to decide what to
do," said Bruce Webster, general manager of the Alberta
Sugar Beet Growers Association.
Some farmers may reduce their sugar beet acres, others will
grow grain as dryland crops so they can transfer the water to
beets, or they may not grow beets at all.
Sugar beets require as much as 450 mm of water to grow
well.
The situation is similar for potato growers. Potatoes need
380-450 mm of water.
Farmers are still making up their minds, said Vern
Workington, of the Potato Growers of Alberta.
"They're going to have to plan how they will transfer
water if they don't have enough," he said.
Under the new Irrigation Act, growers are allowed to move
water from one crop to another, said Stan Klassen of the
Alberta Irrigation Projects Association.
"Irrigation takes the peaks and valleys out but we
have a situation in the St. Mary's system that we have not had
to deal with in the past," said Klassen.
The St. Mary's reservoir is far below normal because of
drought and almost no runoff from the mountains. Significant
rainfall this spring and summer is the only event that could
change the situation.
The affected districts include Raymond, St. Mary River,
Taber, Magrath, Leavitt, Mountain View, United and Aetna.
There are 13 irrigation districts in the province, as well as
some small private groups taking water directly from the
rivers.
The Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District is in healthier
shape and is expected to run a normal year because the Oldman
River reservoir is nearly full.
The St. Mary's Reservoir is far below normal. Snowpack for
the region's headwaters is about half of normal.
As well, Alberta Crop Insurance is offering coverage for
irrigated crops for the first time since 1988. |