More irrigation in a dry land with shrinking rivers?
By Lethbridge Herald on April 12, 2023.
GUEST OPINION
Lorne Fitch
Those substances that are most essential are the ones we consistently overuse. In arid southern Alberta, water is limiting yet we treat it like it was abundant.
Southern Alberta’s rivers are currently unhealthy, mostly because of an over allocation of water for irrigation agriculture. Sufficient water at the right time is essential to keep ecosystem processes functioning, fish alive, riparian areas green and create opportunity for other users, now and in the future.
Our profligate, blinkered use of water is related to a trifecta of factors. A frontier attitude towards resource use has led to irrigation being allocated half of average river flows. Persistent lobbying effort for irrigation expansion has jumped ahead of reason. Lastly, and key to this discussion is climate change which is shrinking the flow in southern Alberta rivers and creating a hotter, drier climate.
There is, as well, the usual human hubris. Pretending that we don’t live in an arid climate, that water is abundant, and that we can continue to grow an economy based on crops produced by artificial rain from irrigation sprinklers, clouds our thinking.
There is a cost to ignoring the reality of changes in our world. Imagine a future where people are showering in public facilities, eating off paper plates to avoid dish washing and collecting infrequent rain water to flush toilets (or using toilets less frequently). Actually we don’t have to imagine such a scenario, it is now playing out in several communities in the Colorado River basin, subject to severe drought brought on by climate change.
The future is with us and within our horizons.
With irrigation expansion schemes in the planning phases, supported by both levels of government, and the dreams of a corridor of food processing plants dancing in the heads of politicians and entrepreneurs, maybe this would be a good time to reflect on where we are headed. Does this yellow brick road have risks to southern Alberta communities, to irrigation farmers and to our rivers?
We should ask, is more always better? At what point do we extract so much water from our rivers they no longer exist as rivers in the sense of living ecosystems? They will not be good to the last drop! We are already at a point where water quality, fish populations, and riparian forests are suffering. Those are indicators of over use, even without irrigation expansion. Like timber and petroleum we have given control over water to single-sector interests. Where and when do Albertans get a say in whether they want their rivers killed?
It would also be good to remember we, as a headwaters province, have obligations to our downstream provincial neighbours, and need to share water.
We can applaud the irrigation sector for efforts to use water more efficiently, to reduce wastage, seepage and evaporation. But irrigation efficiency will not rescue our rivers if it allows expansion of irrigated acres and fuels unrealistic expectations among irrigators.
The reality is that a high proportion of irrigation water is poured on thirsty crops like alfalfa. If water is precious and limiting, can we afford to water such crops? Other, more drought tolerant crops, together with other coping strategies, might provide a long term answer to the survivability of irrigation agriculture in arid southern Alberta.
There will be a point where all of our technological and engineering prowess becomes subject to the law of diminishing returns — perhaps it already has. Yes, irrigation efficiency gains and new reservoirs might buffer users from short-term drought. All the same, we cannot hide from the inevitable effects of less water, and hotter, drier conditions over prolonged periods.
Current modelling shows that with just two back-to-back drought years, there is not enough storage capacity in today’s reservoirs to meet demands. We can’t build enough capacity to outrun climate change. That the huge reservoirs on the Colorado River could not provide enough storage to weather drought, we would do well to heed.
Irrigation famers would be well advised that staring into the expansion sun might blind them to the inherent risks of running out of water. Irrigation expansion in the context of a declining supply of water lies on the razor’s edge between optimism and delusion, between audacity and foolishness, and between imagination and flimflammery.
Lorne Fitch is a Professional Biologist, a retired provincial Fish and Wildlife Biologist and a former Adjunct Professor with the University of Calgary.
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Agreed! We, too, in noticing the increasing number of pivots for pivot irrigation being set up, have wondered how long ‘the water will last.’ We also worry about aquifer levels dropping for those who depend on them for their water source.
The cost of the equipment itself, water rights, annual fees, increased input costs, etc., makes us wonder whether, if, water is no longer available, operators are so monied that it would not matter to them.
Myself, Alberta born, know, that. for example, we are not getting nearly the snow and rain fall that we once had in the 1950s. If this does not change, water runoff from the mountains will not be adequate, as was aptly indicated in the opinion above. It may be, that we are headed for a day of reckoning.
Gee, I wonder why and who built the reservoirs in Southern Alberta? I wonder who pays for the water they take from those reservoirs? I wonder how contributes to the economy in Southern Alberta in which Lethbridge benefits considerably? Could that be the Ag industry?
There are so many things wrong with your rant that it’s hard to know where to start. However, I find it disgusting that a “professor” would write an article with such half-truths and down-right BS.
Water used for irrigation is diverted run-off from the mountains. Don’t store it and it runs through to the ocean.
Through long-standing reciprocal agreements river flows are heavily regulated to allow a percentage of it to go through to the next province or through to the U.S. This applies to all rivers and streams, whether used for irrigation or not.
Alfalfa is by no means a major irrigated crop so I don’t know what your point is there?
We are blessed with the largest agricultural research station in Canada so trust me, there is plenty of focus on more efficient plant varieties. Not just for water conservation but for disease resistance, frost hardiness, and a host of other qualities needed to reduce resources. But, drought resistant plants are not a benefit to irrigators they are a benefit to dry land farming. Why would you waste water on a low yield crop?
There is an increase in irrigated acres in Southern Alberta based on the ability of the irrigation districts to deliver water more efficiently. This is primarily through the reduction in open canals and the use of buried pipelines that reduce evaporation and greatly reduce the flow in the drains going back to the rivers. Which, by the way, is where the water goes if it is not used by the farmer.
But, my biggest question would be “how do you propose to feed the world without irrigation”? The population continues to grow and people will always need to eat. They aren’t making any more land so our only option is to maximize the potential on the land base that we have available. And that will be done with the use of irrigation water as well as fertilizers and chemicals. It’s simply a fact.
By expanding food processing is simply a smart thing to do. Would you rather we truck the resource to another province or state to process? Do you have a problem with offering employment opportunities to the local population? Somebody is growing and processing the food you eat, why not do it here?
You suggest that the growers in Southern Alberta have a cavalier attitude about water and just use and waste it as they please. You probably haven’t paid a pumping power bill lately have you?
I can tell you from experience, that Southern Alberta has the most efficient delivery and application irrigation system anywhere in the World. We take a back seat to no one.
And in response to the “southern Albertan”, I do not know of one irrigation system that draws water from a well. So your comment about aquifer reduction makes me wonder what your point is. And I really wonder what irrigation knowledge you have at all? Your comments make it evident you are sadly lacking in fact.
It may be of interest as well, that I believe there are 52 towns and villages that rely on irrigation reservoirs for water. Not to mention recreation use on the reservoirs.
I would expect so much more from a person who claims to be an educator.
The danger letters like yours presents, is the fact you are an educator and therefore the assumption is that you have extensive knowledge and will present an unbiased view. This letter proves otherwise.