Dear Irrigators:
Our operations teams are currently preparing for the 2026 irrigation season.
SMRID crews have been flushing canals and are charging our system in preparation for irrigation startup. We expect water will be available across the entire district by May 4th-8th, weather permitting.
Please be advised that we are now accepting water orders. Ordering water at this time does not guarantee immediate availability, but it does help Water Coordinators prepare for demand once water is available across the District.
If you are interested in ordering water, please contact your Water Coordinator VIA text message or the WaterMaster App. Please do not phone your water coordinator during this busy time, as they are working hard to ensure your system is prepped for the upcoming irrigation season.
Water allocation has been set at 14” at the farm gate for the 2026 irrigation season.
As of April 24, the storage in the Headworks reservoirs is at 437,000 ac-ft or 90% of full supply limit (FSL), SMRID reservoirs are at 78% of FSL (248,000 ac-ft), and the St. Mary Project total storage is at 86% of FSL (685,000 ac-ft).
Below is the most recent Snowpack data supplied by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Snowpacks for Snow Pillows at Akamina, Flat Top and Many Glacier:
As of April 20, the Akamina Snow Pillow was reporting significantly below the lower quartile.
The largest contributor to our water supply, Flat Top Mountain has made modest gains since the March 27 update and remains between the upper and lower quartile.
The Many Glacier snow pillow is showing no Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) at the elevation of the pillow, although some run off from snow at higher elevations will continue as seasonal temperatures rise.
We will continue to monitor this data throughout the season and provide water supply updates on a monthly basis.
Sincerely,
David Westwood
General Manager
St. Mary River Irrigation District