The Board of Directors of the Eastern Irrigation District sponsors the Water and Ag Tours to assist educators and students in developing an understanding of the importance of water management in Alberta and specifically to the south east Alberta region serviced by the district. Eastern Irrigation District Phone (403) 362-1400 P.O. Bag 8 Fax (403) 362-6206 550 Industrial Road URL: http://www.eid.ab.ca Brooks, Alberta T1R 1B2 Email: [email protected] Units of Measurement, Conversion and Abbreviations Note: All of the units of measurement in this pamphlet are shown in Imperial Units. A listing of abbreviations for measurement units is provided. To convert from Imperial Units to SI Metric Units the following conversion factors may be used: 1 acre = 0.40469 hectare 1 hectare = 2.47104 acre 1 acre = 43,560.00 square feet 1 acre = 0.00156 square miles 1 square mile = 640 acres 1 square mile = 2.58999 square kilometres 1 foot = 0.3048 metres 1 metre = 3.28084 feet 1 pound = 0.45359 kilograms 1 kilogram = 2.20462 pounds 1 cubic foot = 6.22884 imperial gallons 1 cubic foot = 28.31685 litres 1 cubic foot = 0.02832 cubic metres 1 cubic metre = 35.31467 cubic feet 1 acre foot = 43,560.00 cubic feet 1 acre foot = 1233.48184 cubic metres 1 acre foot = 1.23348 cubic decametres acre = ac hectare = ha square feet = ft2 square miles = mi2 miles = mi foot/feet = ft metre = m pound = lb square kilometres = km2 kilometres = km acre feet = acft cubic decametres = dam3 On-Line Unit Conversion Site: http://www.omnis.demon.co.uk/ Eastern Irrigation District Profile In 1903 the Dominion Government of Canada approved a 3 million acre land grant to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Ltd. [CPR] as the final compensation package for the construction of the transcontinental railway. The CPR soon began construction of Canada's most ambitious agricultural project, with the intent of bringing irrigation to the semi-arid western region between Calgary and Medicine Hat [an area referred to as part of the Palliser Triangle]. Construction of the Bassano Dam commenced in 1910. Twenty years of irrigation convinced the area's irrigators and ranchers of the long term value of irrigation water to the region. An irrigators group was formed and in 1935 Bassano Dam During Construction negotiations culminated in the administrative transfer of the Eastern Division of the CPR Irrigation Project to the Board of Trustees of the Eastern Irrigation District [EID]. The borders of the area served by the Eastern Irrigation District encompass approximately 1.5 million acres [2,500 square miles]. These lands are located between the Red Deer and Bow River. Without the diversion of The EID’s diversion is located just south and west of water from the river, Bassano on the Bow River there would be virtually no naturally standing water in the entire region. The EID's main office is located in the City of Brooks, some 130 miles southeast of Calgary on the Trans Canada Highway and CPR mainline. The Eastern Irrigation District is unique in its balance between irrigated and dryland agriculture, as well as rangeland. At present more than 280,000 acres of land are irrigated annually, and 600,000 acres of land are privately owned pasture lands [with some small amount of dryland cultivation]. Of the balance of rangeland, some 580,000 acres is owned by the District and divided into ten community pastures and six swing fields, while smaller parcels are leased to individual irrigators. To supply the open channel gravity irrigation system, water is diverted into the EID from the Bow River just south-west of the Town of Bassano, at the Bassano Dam. This 1910 dam was refurbished in 1985. An intricate network of 1,100 miles of canals with some 2,500 water control structures links the river with 13 internal storage reservoirs and the irrigator's land. To return any unused water to the river system, the EID operates an additional 1,000 miles of drains. Responsible for the administration of the EID is a seven member Board of Directors [elected from 1,200 irrigators]. Their responsibility is to create the policies that will ensure the proper administration of the extensive Surface irrigation is still used on almost 35% of the lands irrigation system irrigated in the district. It is more labour intensive than sprinkler methods of irrigation. and EID grasslands. The day-to-day operations and maintenance of the system are carried out by a Manager and a staff of 75 employees. The method of irrigation is composed of approximately 65% mechanical sprinklers and 35% gravity flood irrigation. With these methods and new technology, irrigators are undertaking to improve their use of water. This valuable resource will continue to be used more beneficially in years to come. In addition to the important support of irrigated agriculture, water resources are now being used in many multi-purpose water projects. These projects are taking water into the EID grasslands to improve the pasture, and in its travel is supporting and creating valuable wildlife habitat. This same water, used by irrigation farmers, cattle and wildlife, is also enjoyed by local residents and tourists on the manmade irrigation reservoirs within the irrigation system. Lake Newell and Crawling Valley Reservoir have become popular recreational sites. Lake Newell has Kinbrook Provincial Park situated on its shores along with such birdwatching areas as Kinbrook Marsh and Sven Bayer Peninsula. In addition to agriculture, the irrigation system supplies domestic water to urban communities within its borders including the City of Brooks. Numerous smaller domestic users, oil and gas producers and commercial businesses depend on the water supplied by irrigation canals and reservoirs. Irrigation farming results in a high per acre value of agricultural production. It has the added advantage of stability. Activities generated by irrigation bolster Working with agencies such as Ducks Unlimited allows the district to provide a wide range of water management local businesses, benefits to the entire region. stimulate the job market, and by so doing, make a healthy contribution to Canada's economy. For every $1.00 earned from primary agricultural production, the regional economic activity generated is about $4.50. In the EID, this means that $300 million in annual primary production has a regional economic impact of $1.35 billion. Added to this is the value of supporting urban requirements, multi-purpose water development, habitat creation and tourism. The EID is a place "Where Water Works Wonders". (For more information about the district, its operations and initiatives, check out the web site at http://www.eid.ab.ca.) Rolling Hills Reservoir Campground Boat Launch The Bassano Dam History: Construction of the Bassano Dam began in September, 1910 and was completed in the spring of 1914. The official opening took place on May 2, 1914. In 1935, a group of irrigators in the Brooks area acquired he Bassano Dam and the canal system from the CPR, forming the Eastern Irrigation District (EID). The district's boundaries encompass about 1.5 million acres of The CPR used their railway technology to help in the land, which is over construction of the Bassano Dam. 200 square miles larger than the Province of Prince Edward Island. Location: The Bassano Dam is located on the Bow River, some 4 miles south- west of the Town of Bassano. The water diversions from the Bow River through the Bassano Dam is the virtual "life blood" of the Eastern Irrigation District and region. The Structure: The concrete spillway extends Divers were used to install works some 720 feet across the bed of below the water line. the Bow River. Construction of this part of the dam required: • 55,000 cubic yards of concrete (an amount equal to what would be needed for more than 1400 basements), • 3,000,000 pounds of reinforcing steel, and • 1,000,000 pounds of structural steel. The spillway included 24 gates – which can handle a river flow of up to 100,000 cubic feet per second. On the west end of the spillway, an earthen embankment was constructed to help contain the Bow River. This embankment was 45 feet high, 7,200 feet long and required 10 million cubic feet of fill material to construct. The irrigation canal head gates located at the east end of the spillway includes five gates. The Bassano Dam raises the water level some 45 feet above the river bed which enables water to be diverted through these head gates into the irrigation system. Refurbishing the Dam: After 70 years of operation, the original structure was beginning to deteriorate. In 1984 work commenced to rehabilitate the structure under the supervision of the PFRA [the Federal Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration]. View of Bassano Dam from the Picnic Area Refurbishing work began in January, 1985 with over 2 years required to complete the project. During this time, the Dam was reinforced, damaged concrete replaced, the earthen embankment upgraded and the gates changed and electrified. This major face life cost $14 million with the end result being a very modern dam capable of diverting 3,500 cubic feet per second into the District's water system. Regional Impacts: Virtually all the water used within the boundaries of the EID, originates from the Bow River at the Bassano Dam. This includes water to irrigate over 280,000 acres of farmland, water to feed over 30,000 acres of managed wetland habitat, plus water requirements for local industry and the domestic needs of a population base in excess of 20,000 people. Bassano Dam: The Bassano Dam is unique because of the dam's composite character, great length and depth of water which flows over the crest during flood periods.