Water levels in region give cause for cautious optimism
By Justin Sibbet - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on June 29, 2024.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDjsibbet@lethbridgeherald.com
Following the catastrophic flooding near Babb, Montana after a siphon collapse, a certain level of optimism filled the air for irrigators in southern Alberta.
However, according to a news release issued on Friday by the St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID), there has been almost no noticeable impact on reservoirs from the Babb incident.
“To date, SMRID has not received any significant additional water from Montana following the June 17 siphon-failure” the release states. “We are still receiving our allotted volume, but it is not more than our apportioned share. Lake Sherburne in Montana is capturing water upstream of the siphon failure and is currently sitting at 85 per cent storage. Once Lake Sherburne is full, some water will be released downstream into the St. Mary River.”
The SMRID says mountain snowpack is also showing less than ideal results when it comes to water run off.
“The Akamina and Many Glacier snow pillows both show no snow water equivalent (SWE) at the elevation of the pillows. However, there are reports that some snow has yet to run off at higher elevations.”
There are some silver linings for irrigators in southern Alberta. The water reservoirs in and around the Lethbridge area have, as of the most recent update by the City of Lethbridge on June 24, reached normal or near normal levels.
The Oldman Reservoir is sitting at 90 per cent, with a normal year showing between 92 and 98 per cent. Meanwhile, the Waterton Reservoir is the most promising at 92 per cent, just one per cent below the seasonal normal high.
In the few days between the City’s most recent update and the SMRID update, the St. Mary Reservoir has risen one per cent to 85. In a normal year, the reservoir stands between 82 and 94 per cent.
“Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) continued releasing from the Waterton Reservoir and diverting flows at the Belly River diversion, adding to the storage in the St. Mary Reservoir, which is 85 per cent full. Operators are maintaining their release down the river as needed.”
Overall, SMRID is reporting gains over the past month, but still showing numbers below that of this time last year.
“SMRID Reservoirs have made minor gains in storage since our last update in May and now contain 214,000 acre-feet of storage, or 67 per cent of our Irrigation (full supply limit), compared to 260,000 acre-feet, or 82 per cent Irrigation (full supply limit) in June 2023.”
Nevertheless, optimism can be found as the SMRID board of directors has been confident enough to increase the allocation of water by one inch, up from eight.
“The Board of Directors has raised the water allocation to nine inches at the farm gate for the 2024 irrigation season, effective immediately.”
While the water allocation has increased, SMRID is still urging irrigators to proceed with caution as Mother Nature can cause changes in an instant.
“Please continue to irrigate responsibly.”
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