It was a low-key announcement with some very sizable numbers.
A historic expansion of Alberta’s irrigation network is getting bigger — another 30,000 acres are being added at a cost of $118 million.
The expansion was announced earlier this month by Premier Jason Kenney without the fanfare of the original announcement a year ago, which was hailed as a “historic” moment in the province’s agricultural history.
But the expansion of the expansion is sizable, too.
The total cost will rise to $933 million and the number of acres brought under irrigation will be increased to 230,000 — a 15 per cent jump from the current 1.44 million irrigated acres in the 10 participating irrigation districts. The number of districts is also up as the Leavitt and Ross Creek irrigation districts join the eight earlier participants (Bow River, Eastern, Lethbridge Northern, Raymond, St. Mary River, Taber, United and Western).
“This is truly a transformational investment for the Alberta irrigation sector and agriculture industry,” St. Mary River manager David Westwood said in a news release.
The irrigation districts are putting up $187 million, which is 20 per cent of the funding. The province is contributing $280 million (30 per cent) and the Canadian Infrastructure Bank is providing the other half through a $467-million low-interest loan.
Most of the additional money is allocated for the two new participating districts, said Agriculture Minister Nate Horner.
The expansion won’t require any more additional water as a large portion of the funds are being used to accelerate or expand conservation efforts, notably replacing canals with underground pipes.
“The primary objectives are to improve the efficient delivery of water, increase irrigation opportunities and to reduce water loss,” the Canadian Infrastructure Bank said in a separate news release.
It also said the work is being done in two phases. The first will put an additional 56,000 acres under irrigation.
“Phase 2 includes new and expanded off-stream reservoirs and is expected to result in approximately 143,800 new irrigated acres,” it said.
In total, there are more than 1.7 million irrigated acres in Alberta and they contribute one-fifth of ag production while occupying less than five per cent of the farmland. The provincial government estimates the irrigation sector pumps $3.6 billion annually into the provincial economy, including $2 billion from the food-processing sector.
The government press release also said that the agreement to expand the original deal was sealed several months ago. It said the infrastructure bank, the province and the 10 irrigation districts “achieved financial close for the expanded irrigation project” in August.
For more content related to drought management visit The Dry Times, where you can find a collection of stories from our family of publications as well as links to external resources to support your decisions through these difficult times.
