Changing Tactics for Managing Water in Alberta: The Water for Life Strategy and Challenges in It's Implementation

Since irrigation is by far the dominant water user in Alberta, the participation of that sector will be critical to the successful implementation of the province's long-term water strategy, entitled Water for Life: Alberta's Strategy for Sustainability. This study asked leading members of the irrigation districts to provide their views on the reaction of irrigators in their district to the strategy. Results show that irrigators feel conservation has become a critical issue and that water for environmental purposes is considered one of the greatest threats to irrigation water availability. Irrigators believed that the strategy's 30 percent efficiency and productivity target is beyond reach. Some gains may be possible but the approach and extent will vary by irrigation district because of differences in on-farm irrigation efficiencies, conveyance system efficiencies, water availability, and crop production factors. Ultimately, the majority of respondents believed efficiency and productivity can be improved but in incremental amounts based on a voluntary approach.