The impacts of having a Belly River dam

By Lethbridge Herald on February 19, 2026.

Editor, 

The Belly River is one of 11 major rivers flowing east from the Rockies.  It is the only one not impacted by a dam.  But one is being planned. There are those who want more water, regardless of the cost or consequences. Beyond its natural beauty, the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies represents the main source of water for our region. It is fundamental to environmental integrity, our health and our economy.

As the intensity of our water demand increases with population and economic activity, the rivers have been the first to suffer. In the past number of years, water flow in the Oldman River Basin has not been enough to provide for river health. We have over-allocated the water available in the Oldman drainage. With anticipated declines in natural water flow due to poor forestry practices, vanishing glaciers, and changes in precipitation due to climate variations, we have to accept that there is a limit. And that we are at this limit.

The primary response to impending water scarcity (and the fear of economic hardship) is to increase water storage – to build dams. Unfortunately, dams don’t create more water. Dams simply shift the available water in time, perhaps capturing more in the spring to use later in the summer. It is a simplistic notion that ignores the real source of water – a stable climate and environmental integrity of the Eastern Slopes.

Building water storage is expensive and costs are largely borne by the public as a subsidy for food production. To justify this expense, it is important to know that a dam will provide the necessary value-added service. But we don’t know this, because we haven’t monitored and adequately modelled water flows for the potential range of climate-futures. In other words, we can spend a lot of money, do a lot of environmental damage, and achieve very little in terms of providing water to the people who need it, when they need it. Let alone leaving enough in the rivers to maintain healthy ecosystems.

Since the spectre of chronic drought has emerged, there have been 9 new and expanded dams proposed in southern Alberta. The Belly River is one of the few free-flowing rivers in Alberta and, as such, represents a relatively intact ecosystem providing opportunities for recreation and the appreciation of natural beauty.

The proposed Belly River reservoir would flood a long stretch of Belly River valley affecting extant cottonwood forests; a popular angling destination; spawning habitat for bull trout (a species-at-risk); the quality of the river for canoe and kayak enjoyment; and, perhaps, destroy sites significant to the Kainai First Nation.

Empirical studies of the Belly River suggest that water flows in the Belly River have been steadily declining for the past few decades due to overuse and the initial impacts of climate change. The data suggests that there will not be enough water in the river to fill and maintain reservoir storage levels on the Belly River. How much more of the natural environment are we willing to sacrifice for expanding irrigation?

If the retention of quality water is the goal, the most responsive, effective and cost-efficient approach is to preserve the integrity of the Eastern Slopes by better managing forestry practices and prohibiting industrial activities that pollute the headwaters (like coal mining).

The proposal to dam the Belly River is currently being considered through a preliminary feasibility study. The Southern Alberta Group for the Environment is expressing its concerns about this proposal to the public, our MLAs and to the Government of Alberta. We encourage you to do the same. The Belly River is too precious to dam.

Braum Barber 

Lethbridge