2025 Water Update: February 13

Dear LNID Water Users and Partners,

Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District (LNID) is continuing the spirit of communication with fellow water users of the Oldman and South Saskatchewan River Basin by sharing our perspectives on the current water supply situation and management of available water. LNID holds large and senior licences on the Oldman River mainstem and will be accountable in allocating, monitoring and tracking our irrigation use as we do every year. As signatories of the AIDA Human Use and Livestock Sustenance Declaration, LNID will continue to assure water volumes are set aside for our thriving communities while making best use of available water in the system to grow our food. We continue to collaborate with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation’s Water Infrastructure Operations Branch and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas in balancing commitments and opportunities for protecting the aquatic environment and meeting other essential needs.

As of February 10, 2025, the Oldman Reservoir, located upstream of LNID’s licenced point of diversion, is at the lower end of the normal range at 56% of full supply level, approximately 14 meters higher than one year ago. Although the snowpack remains below the lower quartile, the seasonal forecast calls for cooler than normal temperatures and higher than normal precipitation through the remaining winter and early Spring. Recognizing that forecasts can change and runoff patterns vary, the current situation indicates a low risk of LNID allocating significant restrictions to our irrigators in 2025 as were seen at the start of 2024.

LNID will track snow accumulation, compare with our historical water supply and demand records, and consult available forecasts as the water supply picture for 2025 comes into focus – and we will continue to share our insights.