Alberta to launch 'unprecedented' water-sharing negotiations Thursday amid drought fears
Climate Change, Energy & Pollution Economic Development Smart CitiesSummary
Starting February 1, 2024, the provincial government of Alberta will begin negotiations with major water license holders for the Red Deer River, Bow River and Old Man River basins amid concerns over water shortages for the first time since 2001. This will be the largest water-sharing negotiation Alberta has ever experienced with unprecedented levels of the scope and scale of collaborative work being proposed.
With Alberta currently experiencing low reservoir and river levels, the water-sharing agreement aims to significantly reduce water usage to ensure access to water in the upcoming months, especially for the agricultural sector in southern Alberta. Irrigation districts will serve as crucial stakeholders in the negotiations as they are significant users of Alberta’s water. The agreement is expected to be completed before March 31, 2024.