M.D. Council support grant for Lethbridge County

By Heather Cameron
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

During the M.D. of Taber Council meeting that took place on September 24, Administration brought a Request for Decision to Council regarding a potential ACP Grant Letter of Support for Lethbridge County.

Lethbridge County, Administration explained, is seeking support from the M.D. of Taber in their submission of a 2024/2025 Alberta Community Partnership grant application in support of an irrigation storage and delivery method study, and there is no matching contribution required.

“The primary goal of this grant application is to fund a study that will analyze current irrigation storage and delivery methods specifically within the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District and St. Mary River Irrigation District,” said a letter from Cole Beck, Chief Administrative Officer of Lethbridge County in a letter to the M.D. of Taber. “We will examine projects to reduce water loss in these systems, such as converting traditional conveyance canals to pipelines. Currently, irrigation canals can result in water loss of up to 10%, and even small improvements could result in a significant increase in the availability of water for our region.”

In his letter, Beck stated that Lethbridge County has already initiated discussions with both the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District and the St. Mary River Irrigation District, and both are supportive of the initiative, and the study’s success is contingent on their support and participation. 

“The expected outcome of the study is to identify new opportunities to improve the efficiency of water conveyance and storage systems,” said Beck’s letter. “These improvements would directly support regional water sustainability, more efficient irrigation practices, and potentially unlock opportunities for further economic growth. In addition to assessing potential water-saving projects we wish to include associated project estimates to provide a cost-benefit analysis to inform future grant requests and the ROI of potential projects. Ultimately, the water remains the ID’s but the goal is to provide data and information necessary to make informed decisions about water management and sustainability as a region.”

Beck’s letter emphasized that Southern Alberta has faced numerous droughts over the years, and the challenges around water availability continue to grow. 

“By reducing water loss due to evaporation, ground infiltration, and enhancing delivery precision, we can better manage our water resources to support agricultural growth, community development, and environmental sustainability,” said Beck’s letter. “As you are aware, many of us are currently working together on the ACP study to identify water processing and treatment opportunities in the region related to Agri-Food Processing in Canada’s Premier Food Corridor (Highway 3 From Lethbridge to Medicine Hat). While that initiative is valuable, it does not address the critical issue of access to water licence, or the general availability of water, which has become increasingly concerning. With the increasing demand for water, it’s essential that we explore ways to retain and access more of the water that is available in the region.”

The proposed study, Beck’s letter stated, will focus on identifying the highest probable water loss areas related to irrigation storage and conveyance.

“What they’re wanting to do is essentially look at water optimization within the south and it’s a project that Lethbridge County has committed to coordinating and managing,” said Arlos Crofts, Chief Administrative Officer of the M.D. of Taber.

Ultimately, Councillor Turcato made a motion that the M.D. of Taber support Lethbridge County’s submission of the 2024/2025 Alberta Community Partnership Grant application in support of an irrigation storage and delivery method study and there is no matching contribution required. The motion was carried.