More funding helps update irrigation infrastructure

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Ryan Dahlman

Southern Alberta Newspapers

Alberta’s commitment to the Irrigation Rehabilitation Program is paying off.

In Budget 2024, Alberta’s government increased funding for the Irrigation Rehabilitation Program to $19 million, up from $13.5 million the year before. This cost-shared program helps irrigation districts modernize infrastructure to deliver water efficiently and reliably to producers, processors and communities. Since the funding was announced, 14 projects have begun or progressed in Alberta’s 11 irrigation districts.

“The Irrigation Rehabilitation Program continues to successfully support the rehabilitation of irrigation delivery infrastructure within Alberta’s irrigation districts. Replacing canals with buried water pipelines and modernizing water control structures maintains an efficient and dependable system providing water security for irrigated agriculture, communities, industry, wetlands and recreation,” said Richard Phillips, vice-chair of Alberta Irrigation Districts Association.

One project that began under the program is a partnership between the St. Mary River and Raymond Irrigation Districts. Together, they are working on major upgrades to the Chin Chute, a project that benefits both districts. The Chin Reservoir is supplied by the St. Mary River Irrigation District’s main canal, which conveys irrigation water from the Milk River Ridge Reservoir, south of the Town of Raymond, about 74 kilometres. The project is expected to be completed this spring.

“We were thankful for the increase in Irrigation Rehabilitation Program funding to $19 million announced in the 2024 budget. It is allowing us to replace the chute at Chin Reservoir. This is a critical component of the infrastructure in the St. Mary irrigation project. Chin Reservoir supports up to 400,000 acres of agriculture irrigation and water for many communities downstream of Chin,” said David Westwood, general manager, St. Mary River Irrigation District.

Quick Facts

• The annual Irrigation Rehabilitation Program was established in 1969 and is currently cost-shared between Alberta’s government (75 per cent) and Alberta’s 11 irrigation districts (25 per cent).

• Funding is used for planning, engineering and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure such as converting canals to pipelines.

Projects funded under the 2024 program include:

• Bow River Irrigation District – BK-2-2 (Vauxhall) Pipeline – replacing four kilometres of open channel canal with buried pipeline at an estimated cost of $1,705,000.

• Bow River Irrigation District – BK-2 (Vauxhall) Pipeline – replacing 16.7 kilometres of open channel canal with buried pipeline at an estimated cost of $2,772,000.

• Eastern Irrigation District – West Bantry Canal – Armour – add armour to upgrade 8.6 kilometres of existing earth canal at an estimated cost of $1,300,000.

• Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District – Lateral A3 Pipeline – replacing 1.6 kilometres of open channel canal with buried pipeline at an estimated cost of $819,000.

• Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District – Lateral 61C Pipeline – replacing 6.6 kilometres of open channel canal with buried pipeline at an estimated cost of $7,500,000.

• Magrath Irrigation District – Miller Pipeline – replacing three kilometres of open channel canal with buried pipeline at an estimated cost of $701,000.

• Raymond Irrigation District – New Dayton CPR Crossing – replacing two aging culverts under a railway crossing at an estimated cost of $250,000

• Raymond Irrigation District – Aerial Photos – to assist with future and ongoing planning at an estimated cost of $5,000.

• Raymond Irrigation District – 9 Mile Phase 4 – replacing two open channel canals totalling 11.5 kilometres with buried pipeline at an estimated cost of $1,905,000.

• St. Mary River Irrigation District & Raymond Irrigation District – Chin Chute Rehabilitation – replace aging spillway structure and increase flowrate capacity at an estimated cost of $27,097,432.

• Southwest Irrigation District – Upper Lateral K Pipeline – replacing 2.3 kilometres of open channel canal with buried pipeline at an estimated cost of $1,507,000.

• United Irrigation District – Lateral F Phase 2 – replacing 700 metres of open channel canal with buried pipeline at an estimated cost of $788,000.

• Western Irrigation District – Secondary C Controls – replacing four aging structures, including upgrades and automation at an estimated cost of $1,066,000.

• Western Irrigation District – Secondary C Inline Storage – investigation and feasibility study for four strategic water storage sites at an estimated cost of $634,000.