Dear Irrigators,
We would like to update you on the water supply level as of February 27, 2026Â based on recent information obtained from Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.
Current storage levels within the District’s reservoirs are at 246,000 acre-feet, which represents 80% of the Full Supply Level (FSL). The Headworks reservoirs, comprised of the Waterton, St. Mary and Milk River Ridge reservoirs, are sitting at a combined storage of 338,000 acre-feet, or 70% of the FSL. The current total of all of the storage in the St. Mary Project reservoirs is 584,000 acre-feet or 73% of FSL.
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.
The Akamina snow pillow is recording below the lower quartile, and the Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) is below what was recorded in February 2025.
Flat Top Mountain is the largest contributor to our water supply. The Flat Top Mountain snow pillow is reporting above the lower quartile, with over 200mm more SWE than this time in 2025.
The Many Glacier snow pillow is reporting well below the lower quartile and has accumulated substantially less SWE than this time last year. Up-to-date Snow Pillow information can be monitored at Alberta Environment and Parks.
Although the Many Glacier and Akamina Snow Pillows are showing lower SWE, a significant amount of runoff has been captured in headworks storage this winter.
It is still too early to predict what the water allocation will be for the 2026 irrigation season. However, we expect to receive additional modelling data from AG&I in the coming months which will inform the Board’s decision for Allocation in April. We will continue to closely monitor the snowpack and precipitation levels in March and April and publish timely monthly updates.
Sincerely,
David Westwood
General Manager
St. Mary River Irrigation District