Municipal Users Group Members

RED DEER RIVER MUNICIPAL USERS GROUP

LOOKING BACK – GOING FORWARD 2006 – 2020 2020 - 2025

Water is the lifeblood of municipalities. It is vital for municipal sustainability, including economic viability, environmental integrity, social well-being and cultural vibrancy. Red Deer Municipal Users Group

HANDBOOK ROLES, PERSPECTIVES and CONTENT

R0LES: The roles of this handbook are: wetlands) are not overlooked. They are considered  To serve as an introduction to the Red Deer as important related aspects of watershed River Municipal Users Group (“MUG”), its conservation and source water protection. interest in water and matters related to water CONTENT: The first part of the handbook provides  To guide future MUG activities in response an overview of the Red Deer River Municipal Users to Red Deer River watershed water Group, its interest and roles in water and water resource management priorities identified management, and some fundamental background by MUG and views of water in southern Alberta, including the  To provide background information for Red Deer River system. The second part addresses MUG municipal members, other five priority water management issues identified by municipalities and other sectors with MUG early in 2020. interests in water and the future well-being of communities, the economy and the CONTEXT: in this report, unless otherwise stated: environment throughout the Red Deer  “Municipalities” refers to municipalities River watershed. within the Red Deer River Watershed and/or receive water from the Red Deer River for PERSPECTIVES: The handbook has two basic municipal, agricultural and other licenced perspectives. The first is to spotlights the key uses. municipal interests in water and their roles in the  “Watershed” refers to the Red Deer River use, conservation and management of water. The watershed, sometimes also “basin” second is the focus primarily on flowing waters (i.e.  “Water” mostly refers to water within the the Red Deer River and its tributaries) within the Red Red Deer River, including its tributaries. Deer River watershed (“the watershed”). However, groundwater and standing water (i.e. lakes, ponds, ______

“Water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, energy and food production, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself. Water is also at the heart of adaptation to climate change, serving as the crucial link between society and the environment.” United Nations. _

Alberta’s Water for Life Strategy states: “In Alberta, our quality of life, and life itself, depends on having a healthy and sustainable water supply for the environment, for our c communities and for our economic well-being.” ______

RED DEER RIVER MUNICIPAL USERS GROUP

FORMATION: In August 2006 municipalities from GOALS: The goals of MUG are those of the throughout the Red Deer River watershed began to Alberta Water for Life Strategy: meet regarding the long-term availability of water to  Safe secure supply of drinking water municipalities. Three factors prompted these for all residents of the region. meetings:  Reliable quality water supplies for a 1. the 2006 South Saskatchewan Water sustainable economy. Management Plan set much lower limits to  Healthy aquatic ecosystems. the amount of water that could be And in doing so: allocated (withdrawn for use) from the Red  Encourage communities, both large and Deer River in comparison to the Bow and small, rural and urban, to work together to Oldman River systems effectively manage water and its use, while 2. shortly thereafter, interests in gaining new conserving the environment of the water licences rose, including an application watershed. for a very large licence for agricultural and related uses OBJECTIVES: Some of the objectives of MUG are: 3. recognition there will continue to be  Fully support the Alberta Water for Life growing and competing demands for water. Strategy  Encourage the effective management of In May 2008, the Red Deer River Municipal Users water resources throughout the watershed Group Municipal Group became an official  Ensure that reliable water supplies, both association when its bylaws were approved by the quantity and quality, are available for a Provincial Corporate Registry. sustainable and growing economy throughout the watershed, including its PURPOSES: The purposes of the Red Deer River municipalities Municipal Users Group are:  Promote the conservation and effective use  Provide a forum for municipalities to of water discuss water supply, water use and  Encourage watershed conservation and water quality source water protection throughout the  Serve as an advocate of municipal entire basin interests in the supply, use, delivery  Inform and update municipalities on water and quality of water matters and concerns  Foster communication among  Maintain an information base that will stakeholders having an interest in provide consistent and current information water with the aim of working pertaining to water supplies and issues together to protect, conserve and  Support integrated watershed management wisely use the water resources in planning through Red Deer River Watershed the Red Deer River system and its Alliance watershed  Participate supportive relationships with  Promote proactive collaborative other stakeholders, including the Province of partnerships to work together towards shared water related goals Alberta, major water use sectors and and interests. influencers (e.g. agriculture, industry, forestry, conservation groups).

ACTIONS TO DATE: Since its inception MUG has carried out numerous actions. These include:  Liaise with and assist the Red Deer River  Input to the ten-year review of the South Watershed Alliance re: Saskatchewan River Basin Water o Red Deer River Watershed Atlas Management Plan coordinated by the Bow o Presentations at Alliance general River Basin Council meetings and forums re: municipal  Support the interbasin transfer of Red Deer interests and actions to protect River water to communities east of the water and conserve water quality Town of Stettler, north of Red Deer to Blackfalds, Lacombe and Ponoka and north o Provide municipal perspectives from Alix to the Bashaw area information for Blueprint – Phase 1  Successfully opposed the interbasin transfer Water Quality: An Integrated of water south to CrossIron Mills, which is Watershed Management Plan for located in the Bow River watershed. the Red Deer River Watershed.  Input to the Special Areas Water Supply Plan  Encourage municipalities to conserve and which questioned the large volume of water effectively use water (ongoing) initially proposed, then generally favoring  Input to the Province’s 2013 “Water the project with a revised, smaller volume of Conversations” re: update of the Water for water Life Strategy  Submissions to the Provincial Government  Input to the WaterSmart report Adaptation to support floodproofing in highly prone Roadmap for Sustainable Water reaches of the Red Deer River, most notably Management in the South Saskatchewan Drumheller and Sundre. River Basin (January 2016)  Promote consideration of additional water  Input to the Alberta Water Council’ s report storage in Red Deer River basin on source water protection by providing  Conduct municipal workshops and seminars MUG documents that highlight municipal on the vital importance of water, watershed interests in and supportive actions for conservation and source water protection. source water

MAJOR REPORTS: MUG also has a number of significant reports, including:  Water Assurance Study: provides a number describes tools municipalities may use to of proactive approaches to securing water protect source water, including its quality for municipalities, including reserving water  A Municipal Report on Integrating Source for municipal use, net diversion licencing, Water Protection and Watershed return flow credits, and allowing Conservation into Municipal Planning: municipalities in an emergency to access encourages municipalities to integrate instream flow need water source water protection and watershed  Source Water Quality Primer: an conservation into the DNA of municipal introduction to the municipal importance of statutory plans source water quality and background  Natural Assets – A Statutory Plan Guide: information on water availability in the basin provides a comprehensive list of policy  Toolkit for Protecting Source Water Quality guides to meaningfully address the in the Red Deer River Watershed: describes conservation and effective use of arable threats to water quality, clarifies municipal land, water, air and environmentally roles in source water protection and significant areas, and key planning approaches thereto.

WATER: VITAL IMPORTANCE and MUNICIPAL ROLES

VITAL IMPORTANCE: Water is vital to the sustained . Municipalities play a role in managing water well-being of municipalities, both rural and urban. systems that impact residents, business and industry.” (RMA. Rural Municipalities of “No water, no municipality. Water is the lifeblood Alberta. Position Statement on Water). of municipalities. It is essential to all five elements of municipal sustainability: The AUMA supports these views in stating:  Economic viability depends on the  “One of the most important ways that we availability of water for local residential, can effectively manage our water is to commercial and industrial development as change the way we manage our land. Land well as for large-scale energy projects that use has many impacts on our watersheds, fuel the province’s economy. from encroachment of development on  Environmental integrity is dependent on riparian areas and wetlands, to creation of healthy aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic impervious surfaces that cause stormwater environments provide a source of potable issues, to environmentally damaging uses water, a buffer against extreme weather that leech contaminants into our events, and a home for diverse species. groundwater. It is vitally important to  Social well-being relies on having a safe, combine land use management with secure supply of water for drinking and watershed management to ensure that other basic needs. both our land and water are protected.”  Cultural vibrancy is enhanced by the beauty (Municipal Water Primer and Discussion of healthy aquatic ecosystems and the Paper). recreational opportunities they provide.  Governance is defined and legitimized in In summary then, municipalities have key roles to part by the ability of municipalities to play in protecting water quality and conserving provide water services to residents safely water: and efficiently.” (AUMA. Alberta Urban 1. drinking water management and Municipalities Association. Municipal Water wastewater management Primer and Discussion Paper). 2. environmental conservation (e.g. wetland, These five key elements are significant to all riparian land and aquatic habitat protection) municipalities – both rural and urban. 3. management of land use impacts (e.g. point source and non-point source pollution) WATER RELATED MUNICIPAL ROLES: The RMA 4. land use planning, and (Rural Municipalities of Alberta) emphasizes two key 5. the promotion of land stewardship. municipal roles of municipal roles in water management and protecting water quality. Municipalities, and especially municipalities working  “Municipalities are responsible for land-use collaboratively, and with other partners can do much planning and environmental decisions where to protect water and manage water use within a water bodies or wetlands are factors. watershed.

RED DEER RIVER: WATER SUPPLY LIMITATION

WATERSHED MAP: The Red Deer River watershed has an area of 49,650 km², being home to approximately 300,000 people.. Over 80 rural and urban municipalities are located wholly or partly in the watershed and/or have the Red Deer River as their drinking water source. The Red Deer River is 724 km in length forming in the mountains of Banff National Parks, then flowing east through foothills and prairies before meeting the South Saskatchewan River just east of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border.

Watershed map

WATERSHED INFORMATION: The Red Deer River licenced for withdrawal. The allocation limits for the watershed is one of four sub-watersheds within the Bow and Oldman are 70%, based on the licences South Saskatchewan River watershed. The other allocated in the early 2000s. The allocation limit for three are the Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan the Red Deer was set at only 33% to enable the river sub-watersheds. Like the Red Deer, the Bow and water to regularly meet the water conservation Oldman are formed in the Rocky Mountains, while objectives and, based on the high portion of the South Saskatchewan begins at the confluence of allocations from the Bow and Oldman, to meet the Bow and Oldman Rivers. The Red Deer River sub- water apportionment agreements with the watershed is the largest of the four, yet the least provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, primarily amount of water since the portion of the Red Deer in low flow years. (Alberta is required to pass, in watershed within the mountains is much smaller most years, a minimum of 50% of the combined than the mountainous portions of the Bow and natural annual flow of the three river into Oldman. The average annual flow of the Red Deer Saskatchewan). The following table provides a River is 1,666,000 dam³, being only 44% of the Bow’s simplifies comparison of the volume of allowable 3,829,000 dam³ and 50% of the Oldman’s 3,342,000 water use (licenced water). Because of the dam³ (source AMEC report). difference in the sizes of the rivers and the established allocation limits, the amount of water WATER SUPPLY: The 2006 South Saskatchewan River from the Red Deer River system that can be licenced Basin Water Management Plan provides water for withdrawal is only 21% of that of the Bow and management objectives for the four rivers and sets 24% of the Oldman. the amount of water from each river that can be

River System Ave. Annual Flow Equivalent Allocation Limit Useable Barrels (dam³) (barrels) (%) Bow 3,829,000 100 70 70 Oldman 3,342,000 87 70 61 Red Deer 1,666,000 44 33 14.5

As such, Red Deer River watershed municipalities, Bow and Oldman basins. This is all the more reason and other economic sectors, have exceedingly less for Red Deer River basin communities to be vitally water available to be licenced in comparison to the interested in water and to remain vigilant.

WHY THE RED DEER RIVER MUNICIPAL USERS GROUP?

UNIQUENESS: The Red Deer River Municipal Users Group is unique within Alberta.

WHY? Why was MUG established and continues to function and to be effective?

1. Water is a vital municipal asset. Without 7. Municipalities have key roles to play in water municipalities die. With limited protecting water quality and conserving water, economic growth and sustainability water is limited. 8. Municipalities recognize many aspects of 2. The unexpected allocation limit of 33% environmental sustainability are related to caught municipalities by surprise, raising the availability of water, especially clean immediate concerns about the future water. availability of water for municipal 9. The development, operation and purposes. maintenance of municipal water, 3. An application by the Special Areas for a stormwater and wastewater systems has very large allocation of water for collective impacts on water resources and agricultural and related purposes, aquatic environments. heightened municipal concerns regarding 10. Municipalities recognize water is a source the future availability of water for other of personal well-being, not the least of municipalities. which is water to drink, to use for cooking 4. A realization that because many Red Deer and personal cleanliness, for recreation and River water licences are junior to licences an appreciation of nature. in the Bow and Oldman sub-watersheds All 11. The sharing of municipal perspectives, with future licences will be junior licences. other water use sectors, is an important During periods of low flow volumes and component of the beneficial management worse, drought, water users in the Red of water resources. Deer River system could be called on first, 12. As key managers of land through land use or proportionately the most, by having their planning municipalities can promote the licences partially of fully suspended to protection of source water and the allow Alberta to meet its water conservation of natural assets (e.g. commitments to Saskatchewan wetlands, riparian areas) within the 5. An assured long-term water supply, watershed. especially of clean water, provides for 13. There are current and future threats to the municipal security and optimism. availability of source water and water 6. There will continue to be growing, and at quality which municipalities can help to times competing interests, in water. address.

PRIORITY WATER ISSUES

PRIORITY ISSUES: Early in 2020 the MUG members Subsequent research gave reflection on the issue of considered a number of water related issues. Action water security. UNESCO defines water security as to address these issues from a municipal perspective “the capacity of a population to safeguard access to will serve to broaden and enrich the effective adequate quantities of water of acceptable quality management water resources within the Red Deer for sustaining human and ecological health on a River basin. watershed basis, and to ensure efficient protection of life and property against water-related hazards Members identified thirteen issues MUG could such as floods, landslides, land subsidence and address, usually with other stakeholders, they being: droughts.” This definition enunciates three core climate change, drought, flooding, invasive species, aspects of water security: (1) adequate quantities of groundwater, water storage, water security, water water, (2) acceptable water quality and efficient assurance, water quality, watershed impacts, water protection. Security infers each of these is ensure, resource management, wildfires and water thus entailing planning and management. This led treatment. Each member gave a priority rating to MUG to prioritize five water issues, as shown below, each issue. The top five issues were: (1) water of municipal importance within three broad needs: security; (2) water quality; (3) drought; (4) water source water protection, water undertakings and assurance; and (5) water storage. The next three integrated planning. Initially identified as water were: (6) water resource management; (7) security, it is now addressed through the issues of watershed impacts; and (8) flooding. water availability and water quality.

Needs: Source water protection Water undertakings Integrated Planning

Issues: 1. Water availability 3. Water assurance 5. Integrated water resource 2. Water quality 4. Water storage management

Addressing these five issues does not dismiss the ISSUE ACTION FRAMEWORK: To address the issues, other top priorities identified by MUG. Drought and what follows is a framework for MUG actions over flooding can be considered within water resource the next three to five years (2021 –2024/ 2026). The management and water storage, while watershed directions outlined could change as life unfolds in impacts can be addressed under water resource the Red Deer River watershed and Alberta. management and water quality. It is recognized that (environmentally, economically and socially). While issues overlap and thereby interact. the issues are addressed from a municipal perspective, it is recognized there a host of other perspectives at play.

ISSUE 1: WATER AVAILABILITY (a sub-issue of source water protection)

Water Availability: means access to adequate supplies of water through all seasons of the year for sustaining human well-being, livelihoods, economies and social fabrics.

Essential Message: Water availability is essential for a municipality’s sense of security and hope for the future.

Underlying Context:  Without sustainable sufficient supplies of water, systems are “closed”. This will put more the long term economic, social and pressure on Red Deer River water environmental viability of communities is not  The Red Deer River system has by far the most secure stringent water allocation limit (Red Deer – 33%,  Inconsistent watershed management and poor Bow and Oldman systems - approximately 70%) land use practices change the flow regimes of  The majority of junior water licences (lowest rivers priority) in the South Saskatchewan River basin  Of the three main stems of the South are in the Red Deer River Watershed. “This Saskatchewan River (Oldman, Bow and Red Deer means that in future water shortages affecting rivers), the Red Deer has by far the lowest annual volume the entire SSRB or the three southern sub-  Continued economic development, population basins, the lowest priority licences are likely to growth and climate variability (including be in the Red Deer River sub-basin. From a strict drought) will increase demands for the use of legal perspective, this could lead these licences water being required to reduce or stop their diversions  Only the Red Deer River has not reached its to ensure apportionment requirements are allocation limits. The Bow and Oldman river being met.” (Intrabasin Water Coordinating Committee Draft Terms of Reference 2020).

Desired Key Outcomes  Adequate steam flow (water volumes) in all  Review of the allocation limits established seasons to ensure the availability of water for the Red Deer River by the South for the operation and sustainable growth of Saskatchewan River Basin Water municipalities, a viable economy and healthy Management Plan. aquatic environments

Goals  Year-round availability of sufficient water for  All municipalities adopt and implement water municipalities, and other water use sectors conservation plans.  Collaborative strategies and actions  An Increase the water allocations allowable from  Collaborative engagement by many partners the Red Deer to River. working together for the protection of source  During periods of low flows in the South waters. Saskatchewan River basin, the water  Key infrastructure is in place to support the year- licences in the Red Deer sub-basin are not round availability of water to meet users needs disproportionately impacted. and assist in meeting water conservation objectives (also see issue 4).

Some Basic Matters  Affirm, and strengthen where necessary,  Intrabasin Water Coordinating Committee Provincial policy on the protection of source addresses how to best meet apportionment water and/or strengthen source water during water shortages in any or all sub-basins protection provisions in the Water Act by the sharing of water resources during periods  Ensuring the primary role in management of of water shortages in such a way that the water licences in the Red Deer sub-basin, having the the Eastern Slopes, being the key majority of junior licences, are not headwaters area, is source water protection disproportionately impacted. For example, through and watershed conservation consider that water ‘shortages’ in one sub-basin  Addressing source water protection and should first be resolved within that sub-basin; watershed conservation within municipal where the issue is to extreme to do so, then statutory plans. other sub-basins should ‘share the pain’  A commitment by the Provincial  Appropriate infrastructure in place to meet Government to review the limit placed on future water demands allocations from the Red Deer River,  Establishment of a committee with including possible ways the limit can be representatives from the Provincial increased while still meeting water quality Government, RDRWA, RDRMUG, water utilities objectives and the interprovincial water and representatives of the agricultural and apportionment agreement industrial sectors to address and monitor water security within the Red Deer River watershed.

Lead Actions:  Protection of headwaters  Review of Red Deer River water allocation limit  Summary report: Red Deer River water supply, uses demands and allocations

Lead Role:  Alberta Environment and Parks

MUG’s Roles  Meet with Alberta Environment and Parks to discuss key water availability issues: headwater protection (i.e. all of the Green Zone); adequate steam flow (water volumes) in all seasons and Red Deer River allocation limits  Request reports, or other form of responses, be prepared by the Department  Review 2009 South Saskatchewan River Water Supply Study and other related reports  Apprise and update the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance.

Partners  Red Deer River Watershed Alliance.

ISSUE 2: WATER QUALITY (a sub-issue of source water protection)

Water quality: refers to the chemical, physical, biological, and radiological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and any human need or purpose.

Essential Message:  Having reliable clean water is significantly beneficial to municipalities and other water users, and is a reflection of the health of the watershed.

Underlying Context  The persistent cumulative effects of land use  A multitude of threats and issues challenge changes on the watershed of population the quality of municipal source water within growth, economic diversification and land the Red Deer River watershed. A sobering use development will continue to challenge actuality is that some threats have been the availability of clean, high quality source experienced from time to time or have high water, both surface and ground water, probabilities of occurring. within the Red Deer River watershed

Desired Key Outcomes  Reliable access by municipalities and other  A “Surface Water Quality Management water users to clean water Framework for the Red Deer River Watershed Goals  Safe, secure and reliable drinking water  A better understanding of contamination threats  Maintain, and improve where necessary, water throughout the watershed, with initial focus on quality for human use and the aquatic areas close to surface drinking water sources environment  Commitment to prepare and implement source  Avoid the contamination of all water, but water protection plans in support of drinking especially source water for drinking purposes water safety plans  Beneficial land use practices, including  A surface water quality framework for the Red infrastructure improvements, to reduce impacts Deer River watershed om water  Collaborative strategies and actions by key partners working together to ensure clean water throughout the watershed.

Some Basic Matters  Reports that Identify contamination threats and quality protection though beneficial land use their locations practices  Reduce, and where possible eliminate, point and  Collaborative input to the “Surface Water non-point water polluting impacts. Quality Management Framework”  Prepare of source water protection plans  Promote wider, effective community education  Encourage municipalities through land use and engagement of what actions to protect planning to support source water and water water quality.

Lead Actions:

 Develop a Surface Water Quality Management Framework  Initiate and encourage actions to maintain and improve surface water quality.

Lead Role:  Alberta Government (re: Alberta Land Stewardship Act): Surface Water Quality Management Framework  Red Deer River Watershed Alliance: encourage actions to maintain and improve surface water quality as outlined in Blueprint: An Integrated Watershed Management Plan for the Red Deer River Watershed Phase 1: WATER QUALITY  Municipalities: statutory plans contain provisions to guide watershed conservation.

MUG’s Roles  Beneficial management practices: continue to challenge municipalities to incorporate and implement, the key planning approaches for watershed conservation provided as guided by the MUG Natural Assets Report and the Statutory Plan Guide: Integrating Source Water Protection and Watershed Conservation into Municipal Planning  Provide input into the development of a Surface Water Quality Management Framework to help ensure that land use decisions protect water quality while meeting municipal needs

Partners  Municipalities, watershed stewardship groups, water and wastewater utility providers.

ISSUE 3: WATER ASSURANCE

Water Assurance: means, within the context of this report, municipalities have a secure very long-term water supply through water licences and water resources policies that allot unallocated water for future municipal allocation.

Essential Message:  Without sufficient supplies of good quality water, the long economic, social and environmental viability and sustainability of communities will be in doubt.

Underlying Context  Without sufficient supplies of good quality  Continued economic development, population water, the long economic, social and growth and climate variability (including environmental viability of communities will be in drought) will challenge the water supply doubt  Municipalities currently have water licences  Municipalities recognizes the necessity of sufficient for future growth, usually 25 years or sharing water supplies among water use sectors more; however, longer term supplies are not within the watershed, and beyond through guaranteed. interbasin regional water systems

Desired Key Outcome  Municipalities have a secure very long-term that also provides water security for other water water supply within a water allocation system use sectors.

Goals  Better understanding of water supply and  Considering water conservation objectives uses/needs, both current and future sectors to maintain the health of aquatic  Productive dialogue with Alberta Environment ecosystems as an important factor in pursuing and Parks regarding options for long term long-term municipal water security municipal water security  All municipalities enact programs to promote  Ascertain commitments to allocate water to water conservation and the effective use of meet very long-term municipal needs while water. sharing water supplies with other use sectors

Some Basic Matters  Gain commitments from Alberta allocation limit from the Red Deer Environment and Parks to discuss and River system determine ways to address very long-term o strongly encourage the preparation municipal water security of a report that identifies strategies  In discussions with Alberta Environment and and actions to increase the Parks: assurance of future water supplies o explore a Crown Reservation and during all seasons to sustain the other water management options economy and municipalities, while o an action plan to go forward for sustaining the quality of the river water allocation, in relation to the and aquatic life therein

o as a vital watershed priority, a long- sectors; relate to the maximum term water security strategy needs allocation allowed to adopted and implemented by key o Identify major interests in additional partners in water management - the water allocations (e.g. irrigation) Provincial Government, o Update future water demands municipalities, water utilities and estimates, including projected long- key water users. term municipal needs o Include the need for collaboration  Gain a clear understanding of the Red Deer regarding the suspension or River Water Conservation Objectives decrease of water licences (WCOs), including how they were throughout the SSR Basin during established and how they impact the water periods when water supply is allocation limit for the Red Deer River ‘stressed’  Gain a better understanding of the potential o The need and benefits of additional impacts of water shortages, including the storage potential for and impact of droughts o Provincial policies that may support  Identify the implications and challenges of ways to promote water security – variable water supplies (seasonal, annual, multi-year) e.g. water efficiency, net returns.  Consider applications for the Intrabasin transfer  Encourage the implementation by of the Red Deer River water to areas where municipalities of water conservation plans, viable options for demonstrated water needs which address the efficient and effective use are not available of water  Support the establishment a (working?)  Review the MUG Water Assurance Study, committee with representatives from the including Provincial Government, RDRWA, RDRMUG, o Review and update water use and water utilities and representatives of the o Update current municipal and agricultural and industrial sectors to address and regional commission water licences monitor water security within the RD River o Update present allocations of water watershed. – total and by major water use

Lead Actions:  A report that guides achieving Municipal Water Assurance Through Sharing

Lead Role:  Red Deer River Municipal Users Group (MUG)

MUG’s Roles  Meet Alberta Environment and Parks to discuss municipalities’ need to have an assured supply of water  Request assistance from Alberta Environment and Parks to explore and evaluate options, including a Crown Reservation, that will provide an assured supply of water for municipalities  Inform, update and involve, when appropriate, municipalities throughout the watershed and the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance

Partners  Alberta Environment and Parks, Red Deer River Watershed Alliance, municipalities.

ISSUE 4: WATER STORAGE

Water storage: refers to holding water in a contained area for a period of time. Surface water storage is created by the on-stream damming of water courses and diverting water to off=stream natural and c reservoirs.

Essential Messages:  Additional water storage in the Red Deer River watershed is not a notion. It is a strategic need  Additional water storage will provide a broad range of long-term benefits, a critically important one being to assist water management in low flow years.

Underlying Context  Climate variability will impact future water . . . In light of projections of 2030 regimes: periods of higher than usual snow and deficits, investigation of new storage rain, thus river water volumes (floods), and opportunities for protecting the periods of less moisture leading to drought economy, water security and the conditions environment is prudent  Low flow years have been experienced; they will  O2 Planning and Design Inc. (2015) be experienced again, thus testing the supply the following surface water risks: and management of water when demands severe floods, major droughts, local become increasingly greater than the present water shortages, increased use of water development impacting downstream  Floods and drought are real threats. reaches (flows, quality), climate  The capacity to manage water in the Red Deer change. River watershed is constrained by insufficient  A third report identifies future water storage water storage infrastructure requirements:  Two significant reports have identified water  Alberta WaterSmart (2015) – “in the issues that factor into water management future the Red Deer sub-basin will needs: require an additional 80,000 dam³ of  AMEC (2014) – high variability in storage to meet Water Conservation annual natural flows indicates that Objectives requirements in view of storage development and regulation increasing water demands.” (note: of flow would be helpful to better this is about 40% of the full supply match available supply with demand capacity of Dickson Dam). on both a seasonal and annual basis

Desired Key Outcomes  Sound rationale for additional water storage in  Additional storage to reduce the risk to existing the Red Deer River watershed water users such as irrigators, municipalities,  A report that addresses the need for additional industry and the environment, as well as water storage within the Red Deer River basin, improve protection of the aquatic environment including options, benefits, impacts, and and mitigate the climate change variability in the recommendations region.  A water storage strategy and action plan that looks ahead as the full water allocation from the Red Deer River approaches

Goals  Appropriate infrastructure in place to meet  Provincial Government confirmation of the need future water demands and a healthy river to prioritize the provision of additional water  Additional infrastructure to help minimize the storage infrastructure in the Red Deer River sub- impacts of droughts and floods basin.  Assist in meeting Water Conservation Objectives, and thus aquatic health

Some Basic Matters  Identify current on-stream and off-stream flexibility to meet water conservation storage capacity objectives, assist water quality and aquatic  Gain a better understanding of the nature systems management not possible without and impacts of water shortages, including additional storage, assist in alleviating the droughts impacts of floods  Improve understanding of water storage  Relate the advantages and disadvantages of requirements in relation to future water use new on-stream and off-stream storage, and needs, periods of drought and climate how a combination may be merited variability  Identify and compare the water  Improve understanding of agricultural management merits of an upstream dam, (including irrigation) demands for water and mid-stream dam and downstream dam how additional storage can assist  Identify the environmental impacts of a new agricultural sustainability dam on the Red Deer River  Identify shortcomings of Dickson Dam to  Address public perception and concerns address very dry summer periods and very  Better understand the effects impacts of large floods in light of increasing water climate change, including needs for flood demands and climate change control and water storage infrastructure  Identify the benefits of increased storage, Continue to update information regarding including greater flexibility for managing water allocations (sectors, totals) and new surface water runoff and supplies to meet (major) applications. water user needs, provide additional

Lead Action:  Preparation of a Water Storage Strategy Report

Lead Role:  Red Deer River Municipal Users Group

MUG’s Roles  Prepare a terms of reference for the preparation of a Water Storage Strategy Report  Establish a Steering Committee representing a number of key stakeholders  Engage Contract a consultant to produce the Water Storage Strategy Report  Present the report to the Provincial Government and encourage action.

Partners  Alberta Environment and Parks, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Red Deer River Watershed Alliance, Special Areas/Acadia Valley, a major industrial water user.

ISSUE 5: INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Water Resource Management (WRM): means “the conservation, development and utilization of water resources and includes, with respect thereto, research, data collection and the maintaining of inventories, planning and the implementation of plans, and the control and regulation of water quantity and quality.” Canada Water Act R.S.C., 1985, c. C-11.

Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM): means ”a process which promotes the co-ordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.” (Global Water Partnership).

Integrated Watershed Management (IWM): means “the process of managing human activities and natural resources on a watershed basis considering social, economic and environmental factors to management watershed resources sustainably.” (Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority). Often, the use of land and is various components is the focus.

Essential Messages:  Water is a strategically important resource, o Integrated Water Resource even more so because its quantity is limited Management Plan  The vital benefits of water can best be o Integrated Watershed Management achieved through integrating the Plan management of water and the watershed  By working in harmony, these plans would within which it is sources and used encourage, guide and support strategic  Water resource management for the Red directions to manage land and water Deer River can be significantly advanced resources for environmental, economical through two complementary plans: and social sustainability.

Underlying Context  Growing water demands and impacts will recommendations. Water quantity (security) further highlight the hydrological, ecological, remain to be addressed economic and social inter-dependencies of  The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan the Red Deer River system and other water (SSRP), being an Alberta Land-use resources within the watershed. These Framework Integrated Plan, provides interdependencies demand more integrated comprehensive directions to manage land, approaches to developing and managing water and other resources (mostly public water and land resources and the effects of development. This plan  The Red Deer River Watershed Alliance covers the Oldman, Bow and Saskatchewan (RDRWA) is in the process of preparing an sub-basins and parts of the Red Deer integrated watershed management plan, watershed. While the process to prepare a having completed phase one which similar plan for the Red Deer Region is yet to addresses surface and groundwater water be started, the South Saskatchewan quality through goals and a series of Regional Plan reveals key matters to be addressed in the Red Deer plan

 The RDRWA can use the SSRP to guide the as water security, drought, floods, storage contents of remaining portions of the and source water protection integrated watershed management plan.  Likely many of the water management Given the quality of Phase 1, the RDRWA has aspects not addressed in the SSRBWMP are demonstrated the ability to complete a found in other provincial government policy significant and meaningful integrated documents. The process of bringing them resource management plan for the Red Deer together within a Red Deer River Integrated River watershed Water Resource Management Plan will not  The South Saskatchewan River Basin Water only serve to more functionally integrate the Management Plan (SSRBWMP) sets out management of water but also indicate water conservation objectives and water where there may be gaps and needs for allocation limits for the Red Deer, Bow, more specific targets and actions Oldman and South Saskatchewan sub-  Involving basin stakeholders would serve to basins. It is not a comprehensive water heighten their appreciation for the many resource management plan, for example challenges involved in water management being short on strategies, policies and while also allowing their input to ensure guidelines on how to address other water water security. and related land management aspects, such

Desired Key Outcomes  A Red Deer River Integrated Water  Continued meaningful collaboration Resources Management Plan between Red Deer River Watershed Alliance  A completed Integrated Watershed and Red Deer River Municipal Users Group Management Plans for the Red Deer River  Promote integrated policies, strategies and Watershed actions for sustainable water resources  A dynamic relationship between basin management and use, and in doing so, stakeholders and the provincial government among other direction: to work together to amplify the benefits of o Address the sharing of the multiple water for the environment, economy, benefits of water communities and people throughout the o Address goals and priorities watershed o Develop strategies, actions, targets to achieve goals.

Goals  Support Province’s Water for Life Strategy  Promote water security (i.e. sufficient quantity  Effective watershed wide perspectives, in all seasons) for lasting environmental, partnerships, strategies and actions economic and social benefits  Integrated land use planning, water resource  Collaborative engagement by many partners management and watershed conservation n working together to sustainable water resources action  Pertinent Red Deer River watershed (basin)  Comprehensive, collaborative river basin advocacy planning  Accountability - regular monitoring of plan  Maintain and improve, where necessary, water implementation and effectiveness. quality

Some Basic Matters  Water - a vital asset  Headwaters and other source water  State of the basin (natural resources) protection  Watershed health  Source water protection plans  Surface water supply: annual. Seasonal  Water storage – future needs variations, trends  Red Deer River’s role in intrabasin water  Water allocations – current, volume management remaining for off-steam use allocations  Interbasin water transfers  Future water demands (projections)  Collaborative water and watershed partners  Water security (quantity); quality (clean) working together  Flood abatement; drought management  Issues, needs, priorities recommendations  Climate variability impacts  Implementation actions  Efficient and effective use of water

Lead Action:  Plans to integrate water resources management and watershed management.

Lead Role:  Alberta Environment and Parks: Red Deer River Integrated Water Resources Management Plan  Red Deer River Watershed Alliance: Integrated Watershed Management Plan.

MUG’s Roles  Encourage Alberta Environment and Park to prioritize the preparation of Integrated Water Resources Management Plan containing a host of management directions to support water security for municipalities and other water users, including the environment  Encourage Alberta Environment and Park to prioritize the preparation of Integrated Water Resources Management Plan  Encourage the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance to prioritize the completion of the Integrated Watershed Management Plan for the Red Deer River Watershed  Participate in the preparation of Integrated Water Resources Management Plan  Support positive collaborative relationships among water stakeholders within and outside the Red Deer River watershed.

Partners  Municipalities, various Provincial Government Departments, major water use sectors,  stewardship groups, Intrabasin Water Coordinating Committee.

REFERENCES

To be done

MUNICIPAL USERS GROUP MEMBERS

Currently (2020), the Red Deer Municipal Users Group (RDRMUG) has 34 members. The 34 members represents 42% of all 81 municipalities wholly or partially located in the Red Deer River Watershed and/or receive water from the Red Deer River.

. City of Red Deer . Town of Blackfalds . Town of Sundre . Clearwater County . Town of Bowden . Town of Sylvan Lake . Kneehill County . Town of Carstairs . Town of Three Hills . Lacombe County . Town of Coronation . Town of Trochu . Mountain View County . Town of Crossfield . Village of Acme . Red Deer County . Town of Didsbury . Village of Alix . Starland County . Town of Drumheller . Village of Big Valley . County of Newell . Town of Hanna . Village of Consort . County of Stettler . Town of Innisfail . Village of Delburne . County of Paintearth . Town of Town of Olds . Village of Halkirk . MD Acadia #34 . Town of Oyen . Special Areas . Town of Stettler .