History of Irrigation:

The History of Irrigation in Southern Alberta is nuanced and storied: The St. Mary River Irrigation Project was first conceived in the late 1800s by the Canadian Northwest Irrigation Company, directed by Eliot T. Galt, to entice the settlement of the area the idea involved the construction of a diversion weir from the St. Mary River near Cardston into a canal system to the Magrath, Raymond and Lethbridge areas.

The majority of this work was undertaken by Mormon settlers from Utah, experienced in irrigation, and soon water was being diverted to the parched grasslands.

Check out the “Eras of Irrigation”, below!

The completion of the St. Mary River Irrigation Project and the subsequent addition of off-stream facilities have stabilized water supply within the project area. In turn, the agricultural industry has grown and is integral to the economic well-being of the area.

The local climate and soils are ideally suited for the production of many specialized crops such as sugar beets, beans, sweet corn, and potatoes, which has led to the construction of numerous processing facilities such as potato chip and French fry plants, canning plants, oil seed refining and sugar factories.

The region is a major producer of alfalfa, barley and feed corn for a flourishing beef feeder industry which supplies as much as 15% of the Canadian cattle.

What was once a treeless short-grass prairie has been transformed, thanks to irrigation, into one of the most densely populated and prosperous agricultural areas in western Canada.

Although the primary purpose of the St. Mary River Irrigation Project is to supply water for irrigation, it also supplies domestic drinking water to most farms, towns, and villages in the area. As well, SMRID waters and reservoirs are a backbone of rural recreation in southern Alberta and provide visitors with countless recreation opportunities across the district. Amidst the dry prairie heat, several SMRID reservoirs offer an oasis for swimming, boating, camping, fishing, and sport.