Why is this research important for Alberta ag?
Alberta's agricultural economy depends heavily on water management to sustain production, profitability, and environmental balance. Irrigated agricultural lands, which make up only 4.4% of the province's cultivated land base, generate significant economic returns, contributing nearly one-third of Alberta’s primary agriculture sales and 28% of its total agri-food GDP. These lands rely on robust water supply and management infrastructure to sustain their impact, with irrigated crop and livestock production yielding eight times more revenue per hectare than dryland farming.
The South Saskatchewan River Basin (SSRB) Is unique in possessing extensive water management infrastructure, controlling the storage and release of water across the basin, benefitting agriculture, municipalities, industry, wetlands, and water-based recreation. Water management infrastructure has allowed the region to prosper by providing adequate water supply to all users, particularly during times of drought.
By leveraging the SSROM, this project aims to provide transformative solutions to balance economic development, water security, and environmental stewardship across the South Saskatchewan River Basin.
What benefits can producers expect from this research?
Producers will benefit directly from projects identified in the roadmap, which aim to enhance water security and support Alberta’s irrigated agriculture sector. These include increasing diversion rates at key irrigation districts, removing bottlenecks in canals, and building new water storage infrastructure, such as reservoirs in the Bow and Red Deer River basins. These improvements will ensure reliable water availability during droughts.
In addition to securing water for agricultural production, the research supports economic growth by enhancing irrigation infrastructure, which boosts productivity and increases water security for agri-food processing facilities and municipal development. Indirect benefits include improved soil health, better nutrient retention, and support for pollinators through investments in natural infrastructure.
This work positions Alberta’s agriculture sector for sustainable growth while ensuring producers have the resources needed to adapt to future challenges.
How will these research findings reach producers on-farm?
The findings will be shared through the roadmap created in this project, which categorizes water management projects based on their scope and timelines for implementation. Developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, including Indigenous Nations, the roadmap provides planning guidance to support water security, economic development, and climate adaptation.
This research helps inform water management decisions by evaluating how different projects and adaptation measures will impact water availability in the basin. Using the SSROM, researchers assessed both historic and future climate conditions to identify risks, model water supply scenarios, and measure the economic and environmental impacts of proposed projects.