January 2012

Alberta Agriculture Irrigation Management Section and The St. Mary River Irrigation District

will be conducting a series of one day Irrigation Management Workshops on

"Irrigation Management To Increase Your Irrigation I. Q."

Please click on this link for more information

Winter Rehab in the SMRID

Several projects are being constructed throughout the SMRID this winter. Three major canal systems are being replaced by buried PVC pipelines. As well, the Yellow Lake pump station is being upgraded and the spillway at Seven Persons reservoir is being repaired. Several kilometres of main canal slough repairs are also being undertaken by District forces.

The pipeline projects improve SMRID’s water conveyance efficiency by eliminating seepage, evaporation losses as well as reducing tailouts. Another advantage of pipeline systems is the improvement to overall system management in terms of responsiveness and flexibility.

Two of the pipeline projects were substantially complete by early January. North of Lethbridge, Cox Construction undertook the the Sunnyside Lateral D pipeline job, replacing 3.2 km of damaged concrete lined canal and 800 metres of unlined earth canal. The project also eliminated a troublesome dead-end ditch. West of Medicine Hat, Starks Plumbing and Heating also reached ‘substantial completion’ by early January, 2012 on the West Medicine Hat Lateral 2 project. Approximately 4 km of damaged concrete lined canal was replaced by PVC pipe. In this case, the contractor left the canal in place, with the canal backfill to be completed later this year by District Operations and Maintenance staff.

South of Grassy Lake, construction is ongoing on the Yellow Lake Lateral 13 project. Wiebe Construction had completed approximately 40% of the work by mid-January. A second pipeline crew is scheduled to commence work on the job later this month to speed up construction. Unlike the other two projects, there was no December completion requirement for the Yellow Lake 13 job since it is much larger in scope than the other jobs. The Yellow Lake 13 job entails the installation of approximately 14 km of buried PVC pipeline. In contrast, the length of pipe for Sunnyside D was 6.6 km, while West Medicine Hat 2 was only 3.2 km.

In addition to the pipeline projects, re-construction work was completed by mid-December by Milt’s Earthmoving at Seven Persons reservoir. This job was undertaken to repair the spillway that was damaged during last spring’s flood event.
Work is also underway by Charmaar Ltd. at Yellow Lake. Charmaar Ltd. has been contracted to replace the existing pump station with two new 42.5 ft3/s Floway pumps (total capacity is 85 ft3/s). The pumps are being supplied by Weir Pumps Canada. It is scheduled to have the new pump station commissioned by mid-March in order to respond to any potential spring snowmelt.

As of mid-January, for the most part the weather has cooperated and work conditions have been very good. Little frost has been present since commencement of construction. Wind has of course been a factor but when possible, topsoil has been re-placed back in position. Going into the spring, much of the pipeline and construction easements will require little cleanup other than discing and harrowing. Pressure testing of the lines is also scheduled for the pipeline commissioning.

Please click on the following link for the Government of Alberta's

Assessment of Water Quality in Alberta's Irrigation Districts

An Opportunity to share your views on "The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan".

The Government of Alberta is working towards the development of the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. In May 2009, the Government established a Regional Advisory Council (RAC) to provide advice, insight and perspective on current and cuture land-use activities and challenges in the region. Please click on this link to download a workbook developed by the council. This RAC workbook provides their advice about land uses in the South Saskatchewan Region, including recommendations on how to balance these uses and where choices are required. Your input on these recommendations is essential as the Government works to develop a draft regional plan. This workbook is designed to help you share your views on these important matters. Alternatively you may complete this workbook online at www.landuse.alberta.ca The SMRID encourages our water users to make their voices heard.

AQUISTION OF SMRID IRRIGATION ACRES

The proposal for a 40,000 acre expansion of the District has been approved by a wide margin of the irrigators that voted on the plebiscite on March, 29, 2011. Three hundred and fifty irrigators voted representing approximately 20% of the waterusers. The final tally was 259 in favour to 91 against. Please Click here Who Can and How to Acquire Acres