Dear Irrigators:
Below is the most recent information regarding the water supply situation, based on the latest Irrigation Water Supply Forecast supplied by Alberta Agriculture & Irrigation (AG&I).
The St. Mary Headworks Reservoirs, made up of the Waterton, St. Mary and Ridge reservoirs, are sitting at 88% of Irrigation Storage FSL (Full Supply Limit) with 423,200 acre-feet of storage. SMRID Reservoirs currently contain 261,100 acre-feet of storage, or 80% of our Irrigation FSL.
Sustained heat in recent weeks has resulted in a significant increase in irrigation demand. All SMRID reservoirs held close to operating FSL until early in July when demand gradually increased, allowing reservoirs to draw down. Storage is all within the operating curves.
As of late July 2026, cumulative water use within the St. Mary Project is tracking moderately within its historical envelope at approximately 330,000 acre-feet. Following suppressed irrigation demand from June precipitation, a recent period of hot weather has accelerated water consumption, keeping the usage trend comfortably within the historical maximum/minimum use.
Based on current supply and demand modelling supplied by Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation’s Water Basin Management Branch, SMRID’s Board of Directors has approved a motion to raise allocation to 17 inches at the farm gate for the 2026 irrigation season, effective immediately.
We will continue to communicate with our irrigators in the coming months and provide scheduled monthly updates throughout the growing season. The next email update is tentatively scheduled for August 28.
Sincerely,
David Westwood
General Manager
St. Mary River Irrigation District