Irrigation in Alberta started in the late 1890s, before Government Alberta became a province. Through innovation and leadership, irrigation steadily expanded to over 700,000 hectares today. Water is supplied for irrigation by1 3 irrigation districts, which represent 82% of the irrigated land, and through individual (private) licences. The majority (97%) of irrigation occurs within theBow River, Oldman River, South SaskatchewanRiver Sub-Basins and Milk River Basin.
Irrigation is essential to the agricultural diversity and economic prosperity of southern Alberta. A A Statistical Overview network of over 7, 500 km of irrigation district - 2017 - conveyance works delivers water for value added crop productivity and livestock watering, and also supports other water uses including wildlife habitat enhancement, hydropower generation, recreational activities, and municipal needs such as domestic and commercial uses.
The irrigation sector, as the largest consumer of water in Alberta, recognizes the importance of improving conservation, efficiency and productivity. LEGEND With cooperative efforts from districts, producers, Private Irrigation Major Rivers and government, the irrigation industry has been Irrigation Districts able to continue expanding within its water Major Cities allocation as a result of water savings from Alberta’s River Basins Hay River Basin continuous progress towards more efficient on-farm Peace/Slave River Basin irrigation technology and rehabilitation of the Athabasca River Basin conveyance infrastructure reducing runoff, seepage, Beaver River Basin North Saskatchewan River Basin evaporation and end of infrastructure spills. Red Deer River Basin Bow River Basin Oldman River Basin South Saskatchewan River Sub-Basin Find the publication “2017 Alberta Irrigation Information” Milk River Basin on-line at: www.agric.gov.ab.ca Alberta River Basins Select: AgricultureÞÞ Soil/Water/Air Irrigation 0.8 Growth in Irrigation Area in Alberta Irrigation Area: 0.7 Irrigation District Infrastructure:
Irrigation Districts (13)...... 581 ,000 ha 0.6 Conveyance Works: Private Irrigation (by Basin) ...... 126 ,420 ha 0.5 Earth Canals ...... 2,622 kilometres Lined Canals ...... 773 kilometres Peace River ...... 1,53 0 ha 0.4 Buried Pipelines ...... 4,209 kilometres Athabasca River ...... 800 ha 0.3
North Saskatchewan River ..... 10,96 0 ha 0.2 Total Replacement Value ...... $2.71 Billion South Saskatchewan River ... 105 ,48 0 ha Area (millions of hectares) 0.1 Drainage Works: Milk River ...... 7,64 0 ha 0 Drains 4,853 kilometres
2012 2002
2010 2014 2000 2004
2016 2006
2008
1992 1982 1972
1990 1994 1980 1984 1970 1974
1996 1986 1976
1998 1988 Total Alberta Irrigation ...... 707 ,420 ha 1978 Total Replacement Value $117 Million TotalDistrict and Private Irrigation Districts Private Licences Major Structures: Water Storage: Irrigation4.0 District Annual Diversions - The gross volume of Number of Structures 170 3 irrigation diversions has decreased even as irrigation area increased. Irrigation DistrictReservoirs...... 1. 826 Million dam 3.5 3 Total Replacement Value $834 Million ProvincialReservoirs ...... 1. 102 Million dam 3.0
) 3 3 Current Licence Allocation All District Works: Total Storage...... 2.928 Million dam 2.5 3.539 million dam3 (2.869 million ac-ft) Total Replacement Value ...... $3.66 Billion 2.0 Irrigation District Allocations and Diversions: 1.5 Licensed Allocations Summary3.0 of Infrastructure Condition Assessments 3 1.0
OldmanRiver Basin 1.761 Million dam (millions dam Volume 68.1%. 3 0.5 2.5 BowRiver Basin 1. 778 Million dam 0 3
1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 Total Licence Allocation 3. 539 Million dam 2016 2.0
Net Irrigation Demand - Comparison of mean annual crop 1.5 201 7 Diversions 3 water requirement, precipitation (blue), and net irrigation 28.5%. OldmanRiver Basin ...... 1. 306 Million dam demand (green) based on 3-cut alfalfa for Lethbridge. 1.0 ( 74 % of Licence) 800 Cost (Billion $) 3 BowRiver Basin ...... 1. 325 Million dam 700 659 0.5 3.4%. 600 570 576 556 578 Infrastructure Replacement ( 75 % of Licence) 527 549 515 493 0 3 500 469 Total Diversion ...... 2.631 Million dam 531 Good Fair Poor 400 184 352 76 324 332 152 149 393 329 Condition Assessment ( 7 4% of Licence) 393 363 300 343 344 Hydropower Generation Capacity within 200 252 249 218 224 Irrigation Water Supply Infrastructure: 100 156 128
Crop Water Requirement (mm) Crop Water 0 8 plants ...... Total 96 MW 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Growing Season Precipitation Net Irrigation Demand
Irrigation District Crop Mix (by area) Evolution of On-farm Irrigation Method OTHER 600 SPECIALTY 1% CROPS CEREALS 500 24% 29% LowLow PressurePressure CentreCentre Pivot Sprinkler Systems 400 High Pressure Centre Pivot 78% Sprinkler Systems 73.2% 300
OIL SEEDS 200
13% Area (Thousands of Ha) Side-RollSide-Roll SprinklerSprinkler SystemsSystems 7% 100 8% SurfaceSurface Irrigation Irrigation Systems Systems FORAGES Irrigated 7%7.9% 33% 0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015