As droughts become more common, industries expand and populations grow, the Alberta government is studying how water is managed in the province and whether any rules need to change.
Over the past number of months, it has held a series of open-ended town halls, open houses, online surveys and other forms of engagement. It’s all tied to a stated goal of increasing water availability and improving the water management system in Alberta.
The first phase of that consultation has just wrapped up. Some, including irrigation districts, have argued in submissions that the current system works and ensures water is shared efficiently while supporting agriculture, communities and industry.
Others, including environmental law groups, have suggested that without reform, future droughts could leave some without access to water.
It comes on the heels of a year in which the province launched what it called “unprecedented” water-sharing negotiations with major water licence holders as it stared down the risk of significant drought.
Voluntary agreements were struck. Municipalities, industry and irrigation districts all agreed to reduce their water usage, though participation was not legally binding.
Prof. Tricia Stadnyk, a Canada Research Chair in hydrologic modelling with the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering, expects the engagement emerged out of those challenges.
She added both sides have points to consider.
“The truth lies somewhere in the middle. It always does. But having these conversations is incredibly important, if we want to navigate the very tough future that we’re going to face when it comes to water,” she said.
Last year, early concerns over low reservoir levels and water shortages were eased by timely rainfall, which for many led to a better-than-expected crop year. But long-term water deficits and increasing demands on the province’s water resources remain a challenge.
Irrigators say system not broken
Since they were informed of the extent of the engagement, the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association (AIDA) and its member districts have been communicating their concerns with government officials.
They argue that despite recent droughts, large water licence holders worked together to mitigate impacts.
Margo Jarvis Redelback, executive director of the AIDA, said the association would push back against any plan that would reduce water licence allocations so allocations better match actual use.
The association said unused allocations function as an “essential buffer” when it comes to dealing with inclement weather.
“Several years ago, the government already looked at our licences and gave us the allocations that we need to ensure that we can continue to expand,” she said.
Alberta’s ability to manage its water was put to the test as the province stared down a potentially devastating drought. The CBC’s Joel Dryden explains what happened with the province’s “unprecedented” water sharing agreements, and talks to experts about how this model might play out in future droughts.
They are also opposed to any mandatory setting of sector water conservation, efficiency and productivity targets, arguing voluntary initiatives led to significant water savings without imposing additional costs on farmers and irrigation districts.
“Though there’s new technology available, that technology may not be able to be implemented by everyone just due to significant costs with that,” Jarvis Redelback said.
Rather than stripping large water licence holders of allocation, irrigators want to see additional investments in water storage and retention.
Environmental law group wants reform
Meanwhile, the Environmental Law Centre, an Alberta law reform and legal education charity, wants “a significant evolution of water governance in the province.”
Their recommendations include revising the province’s Water Act to allow for regular review of water licences, considering volumetric water pricing for licence holders to encourage conservation and appointing an independent officer to oversee environmental water flows.
“The notion of managing the public resource for a variety of public goods should be central to an effective water management system,” the group’s letter reads.
“Yet, historically, there has been a trend for government to treat water use (historic and present) as a carved-off right, treating it like private property, rather than a public resource.”
Jason Unger, the executive director of the Environmental Law Centre, said last year’s drought situation fortunately ended up being not as dire as feared. That meant the voluntary nature of the water-sharing agreements were not seriously tested.
“From our perspective, in terms of a legislative system, that was kind of a side agreement to get around these issues,” he said.
“Some of the restrictions we have in the water right now have to be really viewed with a view to the future.”
Open houses have drawn many
Shannon Frank, executive director of the Oldman Watershed Council, was a participant during the engagement. She said hundreds of irrigators attended open houses in Fort Macleod and Lethbridge to send a “clear message” they did not want anything happening to their water allocation.
Frank said there was also a strong contingent of attendees at the meetings concerned about water use tied to coal mining. The Alberta government recently lifted a ban on coal exploration in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
In Frank’s view, it’s important to have these conversations right now given that the province is going through a serious multi-year drought. Coal mining coming back on the scene also makes the conversation timely and urgent, she said.
“We do need to have robust public engagement. We need to have the time to have these conversations, because water management is very complex, and it also differs a lot by region,” she said.
Next steps
Stadnyk, the hydrologic modelling professor, said she’s not sure how much willingness there is within the provincial government to move the bar on what are difficult discussions.
But she added she believes the engagement is being conducted “in good faith.”
“Look, the reality is clear. It’s going to be contentious. There will be conflict and there will be conflict with some very large and heavy-hitting economic partners in the province,” she said.
“Realistically, it is probably a bit of a show. Optimistically, it does surface a lot of the discontent of the average person and citizen … what I hope it leads to in a best-case scenario is at least better communication and better education.”
The government said feedback gathered through the consultation process “may help inform government programs, policy or legislation aimed to increase water availability and improve the water management system in Alberta.”
“We heard many great ideas about ways to strengthen our water system, and we are now reviewing them. Once this is complete, we will determine what changes are needed in the coming years, and the best way to move forward. We are taking the time to get this right,” reads a statement from Ryan Fournier, a press secretary for Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz.
This year, water levels have been affected by evaporation due to unusually warm temperatures and limited snowfall.
There’s also been a lack of ice cover from warmer winter temperatures, particularly in southern Alberta, Stadnyk said. Snowfall over the next few months, in particular in March and April, will determine this year’s drought trajectory, she added.
“We’re in that uncertain middle ground right now, and the reason for that is that a lot is hinging on the snowpack,” she said.