Alberta Irrigation Information 2015 Calgary Brooks Medicine Hat Lethbridge Glenwood ALBERTA IRRIGATION INFORMATION FACTS AND F IGURES F OR T HE Y EAR 2015 BASIN WATER M ANAGEMENT SECTION IRRIGATIONAND FARM WATER BRANCH SEPTEMBER 2016 This report is prepared by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. The purpose of this booklet is to provide a statistical overview of irrigation information and data relating primarily to the thirteen irrigation districts situated in Alberta, but also includes information about irrigation across the whole province. For more information, please contact: Andrea Gonzalez, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Agriculture Centre Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4V6 Telephone (403) 381-5117 [email protected] For an electronic version of this report and additional information visit: Website: www.agric.gov.ab.ca Select: InformationÞÞ Soil/Water/Air Irrigation LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Irrigated Crops within the 13 Irrigation Districts in Southern Alberta (2006 - 2015)...............5 Figure 2. Acres of Five Major Irrigated Specialty Crops – Canola Seed, Alfalfa Seed, Dry Beans, Potatoes, and Sugar Beets (2006 - 2015) .............................................................................5 Figure 3. Crops Grown within the 13 Irrigation Districts in 2015...........................................................6 Figure 4. On-farm Irrigation Methods within the 13 Irrigation Districts in 2015 .....................................6 Figure 5. Irrigation Method Summary within the 13 Irrigation Districts (2006 - 2015)...........................8 Figure 6. Growth in Irrigation in Alberta (1970 - 2015)........................................................................13 Figure 7. Irrigation Districts Gross Annual Diversions (1976 - 2015) ..................................................13 Figure 8. Irrigation Districts Gross Diversion Equivalent Depth (1980 - 2015) ...................................14 Figure 9. Irrigation Districts Water Use Productivity (1980 - 2015) .....................................................14 Figure 10. Private Irrigation in Alberta...................................................................................................22 Figure 11. Lethbridge Optimum Crop Water and Net Irrigation Requirements(2006 - 2015) ...............23 Figure 12. Lethbridge Corn Heat Units (2006 - 2015)...........................................................................23 Figure 13. Bow Island Optimum Crop Water and Net Irrigation Requirements(2006 - 2015) ..............24 Figure 14. Bow Island Corn Heat Units (2006 - 2015) ..........................................................................24 Figure 15. Brooks Optimum Crop Water and Net Irrigation Requirements(2006 - 2015) ....................25 Figure 16. Brooks Corn Heat Units (2006 - 2015) ................................................................................25 Figure 17. Historical Irrigation Energy Prices........................................................................................27 Figure 18. Alberta’s Irrigation Districts ..................................................................................................28 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Details of Crops Grown within the 13 Irrigation Districts in 2015 ..............................1,2, and 3 Table 2. Summary of Crops Grown within the 13 Irrigation Districts in 2015........................................4 Table 3. On-farm Irrigation Method Summary within the 13 Irrigation Districts.....................................7 Table 4. Assessment Roll Acres within the 13 Irrigation Districts..........................................................9 Table 5. Acres Actually Irrigated within the 13 Irrigation Districts........................................................10 Table 6. Irrigation Districts Annual Water Rates ..................................................................................11 Table 7. Gross Annual Diversions to Alberta Irrigation Districts ..........................................................12 Table 8. Irrigation Districts Water Balance ..........................................................................................15 Table 9. Conveyance Infrastructure by Type of Works in 2015...........................................................16 Table 10. Irrigation District Infrastructure by Length and Replacement Cost in 2015...........................17 Table 11. Summary of Irrigation District Water Licence Allocations ......................................................18 Table 12. Summary of Condition Assessments.....................................................................................18 Table 13. Irrigation District Reservoirs ..................................................................................................19 Table 14. Provincially Owned and Operated Reservoirs.......................................................................20 Table 15. Hydroelectric Plants Associated with Water Distribution Works ............................................20 Table 16. Private Water Licences for Irrigation in Alberta .....................................................................21 Table 17. Historical Rainfall in Southern Alberta ...................................................................................26 Table 18. Historical Corn Heat Units in Southern Alberta .....................................................................26 Table 19. Frost Free Period (0° C) in Southern Alberta ........................................................................26 Table 20. Frost Free Period (-2° C) in Southern Alberta .......................................................................26 Table 21. Energy Type Used in the Irrigation Districts ..........................................................................27 Glossary................................................................................................................................................29 Unit Conversion Factors .......................................................................................................................33 1 Table 1. Details of Crops Grown within the 13 Irrigation Districts in 2015 (cont’d) AID BRID EID LID LNID CROP TYPE acres covered byacres acres covered byacres acres covered by acres acres covered by acres acres covered by acres an irrigation system with no an irrigation system with no an irrigation system with no an irrigation system with no an irrigation system with no Irrigated Not irrigated irrigation Irrigated Not irrigated irrigation Irrigated Not irrigated irrigation Irrigated Not irrigated irrigation Irrigated Not irrigated irrigation this year this year system this year this year system this year this year system this year this year system this year this year system Barley 418 1,029 15,912 1,422 17,607 366 273 15,934 CPS Wheat 569 2,192 656 Durum Wheat 12,388 45 4,150 6,696 Grain Corn 7,195 91 11,299 1,110 Hard Spring Wheat 255 51,640 2,188 44,961 4,808 CEREALS Malt Barley 172 148 Oats 1,197 105 2,236 303 Rye 80 15 109 Soft Wheat 443 68 142 4,273 Triticale 77 318 36 3,115 54 2,254 Winter Wheat 1,372 736 1,036 Alfalfa - Two cuts 542 1,850 8 28,345 13,534 Alfalfa - Three cuts 920 7,787 1,472 Alfalfa Hay 320 321 340 13,070 104 3,628 500 621 200 10,466 Alfalfa Silage 695 3,495 Barley Silage 2,066 4,669 35,990 Barley Silage (underseeded) 433 1,098 Brome Hay 934 978 711 Corn Silage 4,682 78 13,549 22,931 Grass Hay 48 732 125 10,963 195 605 80 4,135 FORAGES Green Feed 89 51 1,674 294 9,615 61 Milk Vetch 120 Millet 25 Native Pasture 340 56 1,100 25 279 Oats Silage Sorghum/Sudan Grass 65 Tame Pasture 284 19 555 9,933 884 39,261 389 375 818 4,226 Timothy Hay 1,989 313 1,498 135 3,553 Tritcale Silage Canola 19,170 2,389 31,040 30,225 OIL SEEDS Flax 8,025 481 12,245 3,100 Mustard 244 80 Alfalfa Seed 14,581 184 20.829 146 Canola Seed 9,299 82 5,637 Carrots 65 Chick Peas Dill 264 125 147 Dry Beans 12,001 96 4,208 Dry Peas 5,228 227 3,170 666 Faba Beans 2,091 2,722 Fresh Corn (sweet) 45 Fresh Peas 1,294 163 314 Grass Seed 142 146 Hemp 6,098 42 681 216 SPECIALTY Lawn Turf 908 CROPS Lentils 865 Market Gardens 6 52 48 Mint 431 66 125 Nursery 8 424 7 Onions Potatoes 8,654 50 4,349 596 Pumpkins Safflower 158 Seed Potatoes 271 302 Small Fruit Soy Beans 203 816 Sugar Beets 9,045 179 462 2,300 Sunflower 849 1,824 181 Miscellaneous 11 37 420 270 916 Non Crop 122 4 39 146 97 45 70 OTHER Summer Fallow 649 378 879 Unknown (not reported) 1,611 851 2,062 228,480 11,477 0 297,930 1,025 0 1,736 1,919 1,193 179,625 0 0 Total acres 4,524 239,957 298,955 4,848 179,625 2 Table 1. Details of Crops Grown within the 13 Irrigation Districts in 2015 (cont’d) MID MVID RCID RID CROP TYPE acres covered byacres acres covered by acres acres covered by acres acres covered by acres an irrigation system with no an irrigation system with no an irrigation system with no an irrigation system with no Irrigated Not irrigated irrigation Irrigated Not irrigated irrigation Irrigated Not irrigated irrigation Irrigated Not irrigated irrigation this year this year system this year this year system this year this year system this year this year system Barley 2,116 722 7,168 1,092 CPS Wheat 343 Durum Wheat 4,271 Grain Corn Hard Spring Wheat 3,180 185 141 1,529 CEREALS Malt Barley 125 Oats 16 307 160 Rye Soft Wheat 261 Triticale 260 Winter Wheat 213 40 1,872 Alfalfa - Two cuts Alfalfa - Three cuts 5,800 Alfalfa Hay 5,028 217 596 686 781 5,300 230 Alfalfa Silage 90 Barley Silage 206 1,844 190 Barley Silage (underseeded)