Alberta’s government is undertaking a review of potential sites for dams and other infrastructure to prepare for future water needs.
The provincial government has hired WSP Canada, a professional service firm which combines science, advisory and engineering expertise. WSP will conduct a study on whether to build a storage reservoir and dam on the Belly River, which flows through southern Alberta and northwest Montana in the United States.
The research will also determine if improvements need to be made to the canal between the Waterton and St. Mary reservoirs. These changes could strengthen water resilience across southern Alberta. Several irrigation districts depend on the Belly River as a water source including Magrath, Mountain View, Raymond, St. Mary River, Taber and the United Irrigation Districts.
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The government’s water management infrastructure is used for irrigation, municipal, industrial, agricultural and recreational use. Water management supports fish and wildlife habitat, flood mitigation and erosion protection. Water security guards against drought and flood and helps farmers and ranchers.
To ensure Alberta’s growing communities are protected and have the water supply they need, the government of Alberta says it will continue to invest in strong water management infrastructure.
RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, said the province is taking a whole-government approach to managing and maintaining provincial water infrastructure systems to ensure Alberta has a safe, reliable water supply.
The proposed reservoir on the Belly River, about five kilometres northwest of Mountain View in Cardston County, could improve water security, provide drought and flood resiliency and support the aquatic ecosystem.
The consultant will also determine if the water flow in the canal between the Waterton and St. Mary reservoirs could be improved. These studies are anticipated to take several years.
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation owns and operates more than 80 dams, 340 kilometres of major irrigation headworks canals, four pumping stations and flood protection berms and dikes in the province.
