Dear Irrigators,
Below is the most recent information regarding the water supply situation.
Please note that based on the latest Irrigation Water Supply Forecast supplied by Alberta Agriculture & Irrigation (AG&I), the Board of Directors expect the 2025 allocation to remain at 12-inches for the remainder of the 2025 water season.
AG&I continued diverting flows in the Waterton and Belly River Diversion canals, adding to the storage in the St. Mary Reservoir. Flows from Waterton Reservoir have dropped off to increase storage in the reservoir. This is a direct effort to allow all obligations to be met throughout the irrigation season.
Subsequently, St. Mary Reservoir has peaked and has begun a downward trend.
The St. Mary Headworks Reservoirs, made up of the Waterton, St. Mary and Ridge reservoirs are sitting at 85% of Irrigation Storage FSL (Full Supply Limit) with 395,000 acre-feet of storage.
SMRID reservoirs contain 258,000 acre-feet of storage, or 81% of our Irrigation FSL.
All snow pillows at Akamina, Many Glacier and Flattop are now depleted and show no snow water equivalent (SWE) at the elevation of the pillows.
We will continue to communicate with our Irrigators throughout the irrigation season and provide monthly updates. The next update is tentatively scheduled for July 31.
Sincerely,
David Westwood
General Manager
St. Mary River Irrigation District