It is somewhat a moot point to write this letter during the monsoons we have been, and are experiencing! It is difficult too, to talk of low water flow that will occur in the next number of years. But the possibilities must be addressed now in order to better prepare for our future within the Red Deer River Basin.
No one should begrudge Special Areas for their concern for water for domestic and livestock use. However, one should to be vigilant as to the other use, irrigation.
Special Areas is an area in South Eastern Alberta of some 5 million acres of land with a population of 5,000; referred to as Palliser’s Triangle.
In the dry 30’s this part of Alberta was extremely destitute. In 1938 the Provincial government established a special governing body. Assistance was forthcoming and today they continue to have a special relationship with the provincial government. They now have three members elected by the Lieutenant Governor in Council and an advisory council of 13 members. For many years this body has lobbied to take water from the Red Deer River not only for domestic and livestock use but to irrigate.
We need to ask questions about the full extent of their proposal to capture and store water:
l Do we have assurance that there will be a “tiny” level of irrigation? What happens when one farmer has the “tiny” amount and the neighbour wants it as well? Where does it end? One has just to look to the rivers to the south of our province to see what irrigation has done to the flow of them: Bow, Oldman and Milk plus many of the creeks in that area.
l Will the public along the Red Deer River basin have an opportunity to participate in dialogue regarding this project? After all, we all share the river.
l In looking at the Special Areas web site an article states that “the water would be taken upstream from Drumheller, but would not be noticeable.” What does that mean?
John Palliser, the great Canadian explorer and map-maker said the South Eastern part of our Province was unsuitable for agricultural development “too arid for farming” — a natural phenomenon; so, it gives me great concern when minister Hayden stated “we have an amazing resource, there is grass for pasture, for livestock . . . unfortunately, there isn’t enough water for watering them.” We are talking of some thousands upon thousands of acres of land; do we hear irrigation in his comment?
I welcome the two phased study that will assess the impact the Special Areas’ Water Supply Project would have on the river and its environment. I would also suggest assessing the impact watering this arid land would have on future growth and development along the Red Deer River Basin
Lorna Watkinson-Zimmer
Red Deer