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Government invests $2.6 million to improve irrigation in southern Alberta

The provincial government will allocate more than $2.6 million in grant funding to support St. Mary River Irrigation District in managing and delivering water for irrigation in southern Alberta.

The grant is part of Alberta’s $10-million Irrigation Rehabilitation Program. This funding will ensure Alberta’s irrigation districts continue to improve water infrastructure that provides water for irrigation and agricultural operations, municipal use, recreation, wildlife and habitat enhancement.

Rehabilitation projects supported by these grants include lining unlined canals, converting canals to pipelines and more. Projects like these increase the water conveyance network’s efficiency, allowing more acres to be irrigated with the existing water allocation.

“We appreciate the funding we’re receiving through the Irrigation Rehabilitation Program. St. Mary River Irrigation District supports a rich and varied abundance of crops, providing southern Alberta with a steady and vibrant economy even during these difficult times. This grant supports our ongoing work to deliver water more efficiently to our communities and proudly serve the farms, businesses and people in southern Alberta,” said George Lohues, board chair of St. Mary River Irrigation District, in a released statement.

Started in 1969, the Irrigation Rehabilitation Program is a long-standing grant program that provides cost-shared funds to irrigation districts to rehabilitate irrigation infrastructure. Government of Alberta investments through the program are matched by districts at a ratio of 75 per cent government to 25 per cent district. St. Mary River Irrigation District is receiving $2,651,848 from the program.

Every year, Alberta’s irrigation industry supports about 56,000 full-time jobs and contributes about $2.4 billion in labour income. Alberta’s irrigated land makes up almost 70 per cent of all irrigated acres in Canada.