Water User Update: April 2026

LNID would like to provide an overall operational update.

2026 WATER ALLOCATION PER IRRIGATION ACRE – 16”

At the April 14, 2026 Board Meeting, the Board of Directors set the 2026 Water Allocation per irrigation acre at 16”.

The Board reviewed the Water Supply Outlook published by the Government of Alberta, the current Oldman Reservoir level, the current mountain snow water equivalent, allowance for typical river and other downstream use, and the risk of a drier than normal summer. They considered the operational needs of irrigators as you make informed crop selection and management decisions and estimated actual average annual use across the district. The Board then balanced the risk to irrigators against the projected end-of-season Oldman Reservoir level for a dry, high-demand year. Using the reservoir to absorb some risk allows our irrigators an allocation with the best prospects for a productive growing season.

WATER START UP ‘WEEK’: APRIL 21 – MAY 1

The Board recently reviewed planning and procedures for water startup, developing a formal policy to ensure fairness, efficiency, and accountability.

The startup ‘week’ is defined as the target 10-day period from the introduction of water from headworks sources to normal irrigation operations. For 2026:

• April 21: Water will be introduced to the Lethbridge Northern Headworks Canal and flushing of Keho Main Canal;
• April 21-May 1: systems will be flushed, filled, and primed in preparation for the irrigation season;
• April 24: Flushing of the Monarch Main Canal;
• May 1: target date for water to be available for irrigation to all water users, although some systems could be delayed.

Unauthorized taking of water will not be tolerated.

Daily updates on water order readiness by area during startup week will be provided on the website.

A full explanation of the water start up process and how it affects your first water of the irrigation season can be found here.

WATER ORDERS

A minimum 24-hour advance notice is required for both turning water on and turning water off. Water orders for the next day must be received the day before no later than 10:00AM.

Contact your Water Coordinator by text message, email, or phone call to place your water order with the following information:

• Your name;
• Legal Land Description;
• on/off date;
• Preferred method of return communication (text/email/phone).

Your Water Coordinator will respond confirming they have received your water order. Water orders are incomplete until confirmation is received.

Water Coordinator Divisions and contact information can be found here.

LNID CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE UPDATE

All underground works are completed for the Lateral A20 Pipeline Project south of Highway 519 near Granum, meaning all PVC pipe, the precast settling tank, and the inlet screen has been installed and are ready for water.

Project Highlight: Successful Precast Concrete Settling Tank Installation

A precast settling tank was designed and installed on the pipeline to reduce the risk of debris damaging landowners’ pumps, as eccentric tees were installed on the pipeline to efficiently deliver water to the users. Given the site constraints, the precast tank provided a cost-effective and innovative solution, and it includes access hatches so any collected soil and gravel can be easily removed after the irrigation season.

LETHBRIDGE NORTHERN HEADWORKS (LNH) CANAL UPGRADES

Alberta Agriculture & Irrigation (AGI) provided LNID a progress update on the canal upgrades, a full progress update can be found under Notices on LNID’s website homepage.

Substantial completion, or in other words the ability to run water, was achieved on April 9, 2026. The target completion date for subsequent site cleanup is May 31, 2026.

LNID Board of Directors and Staff