News

Water Shut Off 2024 Preparations

October 7, 2024

The water shut off date for the 2024 irrigation season is set for Friday, October 11. During the week of October 7 to October 11, 2024, levels and flows in the canals will be reduced in preparation of shutting down the system. Depending on where you are in the system, the level in the canal may be too low for you to get water delivery. Please ensure that all pond fills are completed as soon as possible. For water orders in this final week, please give your Water Coordinator at least 24-hours notice. Your Water Coordinator will let you know if delivery is possible.

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Announcements

  • Payment Information for the 2024 Irrigation Season

    September 25, 2024

    Mailed: September 25, 2024 - The 2024 Combined Assessment (Irrigation) & Billing Notices

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  • CBC Calgary "The Eyeopener" - Home for Harvest

    September 20, 2024

    CBC Calgary's "The Eyeopener" spent a morning at David and Mary Bishop's farm near Barons, Alberta, discussing harvest and the evolution of agriculture. The Bishops are LNID irrigators served from the Keho-Barons pressurized pipeline system. The radio show and podcast included interviews with the Bishops, other farmers in the area, Olds College, and an interview with LNID's General Manager, Chris Gallagher, to discuss irrigation.

    To listen to the full segment, click here!

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  • Water Shut Off 2024

    September 18, 2024

    The LNID Board of Directors has set Friday, October 11 as the water shut off date for the 2024 irrigation season, however this may be moved up subject to cold weather conditions.

    Irrigators are encouraged to start filling their ponds as soon as possible and to have their ponds filled by September 30, 2024.

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  • Irrigation District Water Quality (IDWQ) Program Update

    September 11, 2024

    Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District (LNID) completes water quality testing as a participant in the Irrigation District Water Quality (IDWQ) program, developed by the Water Quality Branch of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) in consultation with irrigation districts. The purpose of the program is to demonstrate stewardship for the quality of water delivered to grow our food. The Alberta Irrigation Districts Association (AIDA) now administers the IDWQ program, while AGI continues to provide training to irrigation district personnel in sampling and collection methodology and oversees data analysis and reporting.

    Water sampling for the IDWQ program takes place monthly during the irrigation season at several primary (main canal), secondary (lateral canal), and return flow open water sites within LNID infrastructure. Analysis of key parameters is completed by a qualified laboratory, processed and indexed by AGI, and assessed against Alberta surface water quality guidelines for irrigation use. The Alberta guidelines are based on the environmental quality guidelines established by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). The results from the IDWQ program, including comprehensive data tables, is available to the public at this website.

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  • Water Allocation Update: August 21, 2024

    August 20, 2024

    The LNID Board of Directors reviewed the current water supply of the Oldman River Reservoir and district crop demands at their regular meeting on August 20, 2024, and has approved a motion to increase the annual allocation from 11” per irrigation acre to 13” per irrigation acre. The Board also approved a motion that there will be no more increases to the allocation this year. At a 13" allocation, LNID remains a party to the Water Sharing Memorandum of Understanding.

    LNID continues to target an end of season storage between 42-45% in the Oldman River Reservoir. At the time of the meeting, the Oldman River Reservoir was at approximately 72% of full supply volume (about 354,500 dam3) and Keho Reservoir was around 89.5% of full supply volume. The average water use in the district is approximately 7.2” per acre. Inflows into the Oldman River Reservoir were at low levels similar to those seen at this time in 2023.

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  • Water Allocation Update: August 1, 2024

    August 1, 2024

    The LNID Board of Directors met on July 31, 2024, to review the current water supply of the Oldman River Reservoir as well as crop demands and has decided to hold the water allocation for 2024 at 11” per acre.

    At the time of the meeting, the Oldman River Reservoir was sitting at just under 80% of full supply volume (about 325,000 acre-feet) and Keho Reservoir continued to hover around 90% full supply volume. The average water use in the district is approximately 6” per acre. Inflows into the Oldman River Reservoir have reduced to similar low levels that were seen at this time in 2023.

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Important Notices

2024 Water Allocation

The LNID Board of Directors reviewed the current water supply of the Oldman River Reservoir and district crop demands at their regular meeting on August 20, 2024, and has approved a motion to increase the annual allocation from 11” per irrigation acre to 13” per irrigation acre. The Board also approved a motion that there will be no more increases to the allocation this year.At a 13" allocation, LNID remains a party to the Water Sharing Memorandum of Understanding.

LNID continues to target an end of season storage between 42-45% in the Oldman River Reservoir. At the time of the meeting, the Oldman River Reservoir was at approximately 72% of full supply volume (about 354,500 dam3) and Keho Reservoir was around 89.5% of full supply volume. The average water use in the district is approximately 7.2” per acre. Inflows into the Oldman River Reservoir were at low levels similar to those seen at this time in 2023.

As we have passed peak seasonal water demand and approaching maturity for many crops, we have more certainty in estimating remaining water use and residual volume in our storage reservoirs. Several of the conservative assumptions used in the rational method have been updated and applied to projections of end-of-season water storage.

LNID is currently seeing a significant increase in the number of water allocation transfer requests as many irrigators manage the 11” per acre allocation limit to meet the needs of high water use crops. Additionally, we have found a wide variance in natural rainfall across the District that, combined with variable water holding capacity of heavy and light soils, means there is inherent disparity in supplemental water needs for farm operations, regardless of crop selection, and that water-stressed areas can change from year to year. As the water saved by responsible irrigation earlier in the season is being used now to sustain growing crops through an extended and continuing period of high temperatures this summer, the water allocation limits on a farm unit basis are being approached for several operations. These irrigators have committed to seeing these crops through to completion and the LNID Board recognizes that the incremental volume to realize crop yield and quality potential is available within the contingency allowed in the conservative assumptions. A modest increase in allocation is not projected to significantly impact district-wide uptake and so will have a relatively minor effect on end-of-season storage. Using the updated estimate of district-wide use with a 13” allocation in place at current or higher rates of irrigation and a conservative estimate of non-LNID releases, the end-of-season Oldman Reservoir storage remains at 42-45%. The Board is also aware that targeting a gross end-of-season storage volume is helpful for overall risk management but at a finer scale is limited in its effectiveness in offsetting natural variability in annual snowpack accumulation and spring runoff for 2025. Recognizing also that there is a reasonable projection of transition to a La Niña and NOAA is forecasting above normal moisture widening across the northwest for early 2025, it would be a shame to save water this summer that is then spilled next Spring. The reservoirs are there to capture runoff and sustain flows through dry periods that, together with application of good water management and conservation practices, will protect and sustain our aquatic ecosystems, our communities and our irrigated agriculture that drives the southern Alberta economy.

To view supporting information, click here.

Irrigators are reminded that penalties will apply to parcels that exceed the annual allocation. To avoid penalties, allocation transfers can be applied for by submitting your request via email to allocation@lnidweb.ca. We will reply with a request form for completion. There is no charge for administration of these transfers.

As of: August 21, 2024

2024 Board Election: Results

The LNID would like to welcome Arnie Bergen-Henengouwen to the Board of Directors, as the elected candidate for Electoral Division No. 3.

The Board of Directors is as follows:

Division 1: Peter Bos

Division 2: Martin Van Diemen

Division 3: Arnie Bergen-Henengouwen

Division 4: Calvin Konynenbelt

Division 5: Sonny Wierenga

2024 Weed Control Treatments

The Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District will be controlling broadleaf weeds along its right-of-ways for the 2024 irrigation season. The chemicals used will be Dycleer, 2,4-D Amine 600 and Amine 500 herbicides. Round-up will also be used for weed control on graveled driving banks and for reed canary grass control. This Spray program will be starting in May of 2024 and will continue to the end of the irrigation season.

Also included in this weed control program will be the treatments for aquatic weeds. To control these aquatic weeds, the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District may be treating the Canals noted below on the approximate dates shown during the 2024 irrigation season. The Canals will be treated with Magnicide H (Acrolein, Inhibited) to control the growth of aquatic weeds and algae.

Projected 2024 Aquatic Treatment Locations & Dates:

MONARCH DRAIN TP 10 RGE 23

LATERAL 61C CANAL TP 9/10 RGE 22

LATERAL 62G CANAL TP 11/12 RGE 21

LATERAL 62J CANAL TP 11 RGE 20/21

LATERAL K1 CANAL TP 11/12 RGE 19/20

LATERAL 62K CANAL TP 11 RGE 19/20

WEEKS OF:

MAY 13, 20, 27 JUNE 3, 10, 17, 24 JULY 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 AUG. 5, 12, 19, 26 SEPT. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

All sub laterals that take water from the above noted laterals may/will be affected by these treatments. Please read the supplied material if you have land by these treatments or receive water from these canals.

This weed control program is administered by licensed applicators under the approval from Alberta Environment & Protected Areas. Go to www.lnid.ca to view a detailed map of the above referenced areas and updated information.

No Hunting on District Property

The district administration would like to remind all residents and visitors that hunting of any kind is strictly prohibited on district land. This prohibition is in place to ensure the safety of all individuals on district land, as well as to protect the natural habitat and wildlife within the area.

The prohibition on hunting includes, but is not limited to, the use of firearms, bows and arrows, traps, and any other devices used to capture or kill animals. This prohibition applies to all individuals, regardless of whether they are residents of the district or not.

Any individuals found to be hunting on district land will be asked to leave the area immediately and may be subject to legal action. The district administration takes this matter very seriously and will take all necessary measures to enforce this prohibition.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for all on district land. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the district administration. Thank you for your understanding and compliance.

Publications

Oldman River Reservoir Information

Information used in the Water Supply Update as of July 31, 2024.

Download 360 KB

2023 Annual Report

Annual report prepared by the Board of Directors. This report outlines the operational and financial state of the district and provides details about the district's current projects and infrastructure.

Download 3.55 MB

2022 District Newsletter

The District Newsletter provides water users with a synopsis of information that is relevant to them.

Download 175 KB

2022 Annual Report

Annual report prepared by the Board of Directors. This report outlines the operational and financial state of the district and provides details about the district's current projects and infrastructure.

Download 1.47 MB

Yearly Publications

Other Publications

  • Download 595 KB
    August 20, 2024 Water Allocation Projection Information
  • Download 360 KB
    Oldman River Reservoir Information
  • Download 1.98 MB
    2024 Weed Control Map
  • Download 21 KB
    Zebra Mussels Found in Moss Balls