Alberta will kick off negotiations with major water licence holders to strike water-sharing agreements for the Red Deer River, Bow River and Old Man River basins Thursday as concern over looming water shortages grows.
The use of water is restricted in Alberta through the issuing of “water licences” by the provincial government. One hundred per cent of Alberta’s water is already allocated.
If one wants to purchase a licence, they must purchase one from an existing licence holder. This system — referred to as “first in time, first in right” — has been in place since 1894. It means, in essence, that the biggest water licence holders must voluntarily share more water with municipalities and industry.
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All of the province will be affected by that, but southern Alberta’s agricultural sector is expected to face particularly significant challenges.
As such, for the first time since 2001, the provincial government said it has authorized its drought command team to begin negotiations with the major water licence holders.
The “scope and scale of the collaborative work underway and being proposed” is “unprecedented” in Alberta’s history, the province said.
I want to thank licence holders for coming to the table — your generosity, ingenuity and participation in this effort reflects the very best of our province," Schulz said.
“The major water users, the irrigation districts in particular, have committed to making sure that there’s access, especially for human health and livestock first,” Frank said.
In an interview with CBC News earlier this month, Schulz signalled that a review into the province’s water licence system was likely.
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