Sharing Water on the Canadian Prairies

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SHARING WATER ON THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES WHO GETS THE WATER IN CANADIAN PRAIRIE RIVERS? Most rivers on the Canadian prairies flow from west to east, crossing from one province into another. To share the water fairly, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Canada signed an agreement in 1969, the “Master Agreement on Apportionment” (MAA). WHAT DOES THE APPORTIONMENT AGREEMENT STATE? • Alberta is entitled to 50% of the natural flow of each interprovincial river before it enters Saskatchewan. • Saskatchewan is entitled to 50% of the water which enters the province from Alberta and 50% of the flow arising within its borders. • Manitoba is entitled to 50% of the flow coming into Saskatchewan and 50% of the flow arising within Saskatchewan. WHAT IS “NATURAL FLOW”? Natural flow is the amount of water that would flow naturally in any watercourse had the flow not been affected by human interference. HOW CLOSELY ARE NATURAL FLOWS MONITORED? Currently, apportionment monitoring occurs on the South Saskatchewan River, Battle Creek, Middle Creek, Lodge Creek and Cold River. Apportionment monitoring does not occur on the Beaver River, North Saskatchewan River, Battle River, Boxelder Creek, and Eyehill Creek as Alberta’s consumptive use of these rivers is not a significant proportion of natural flow. WHO CHECKS TO MAKE SURE THE WATER IS SHARED FAIRLY? The Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) is in charge of monitoring the fair sharing of prairie river water. The PPWB regularly estimates and reports natural flow. It also reviews any proposed project that could impact water quantity at provincial borders. AN EVOLVING MANDATE In 1992, the MAA was amended to protect water quality further by adding water quality objectives for 11 interprovincial river reaches. It gave the PPWB authority to address transboundary groundwater issues. In 2015, the interprovincial water quality objectives were updated and a 12th river reach added. .

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