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By rdnewsNOW Staff

NATURAL RESOURCES

Alberta conducting long-term water storage study

Dec 5, 2024 | 10:44 AM

The Alberta government has begun a province-wide Water Storage Opportunities Study evaluating 100 locations for their potential to serve as a dam, reservoir, or other water storage infrastructure in an effort to meet future water needs.

As Alberta’s population and economy grows, demand for water from communities and industries increases as well.

Officials say the province’s prairie landscape and climate cause precipitation to vary greatly season-to-season and year-to-year.

In an effort to capture and store more water and respond to this unpredictability, the province says it is looking into building more water storage infrastructure.

This study is expected to be used to help the government plan long-term ways to maximize Alberta’s water supply, reduce the risk of future droughts and floods, and support communities.

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Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz said Thursday the review will ensure that Alberta “has the water it needs to support our growing communities and a thriving economy for generations to come.”

“This study will take a hard look at sites across the province to help us identify the most effective places to build future water storage projects,” she said in a statement.

The storage facilities can also play a role in irrigation and supporting a healthy environment, according to a government news release.

The downside, however, is they can be costly to build and impact local ecosystems and environments.

The government says potential sites identified in the study will be assessed based on information regarding hydrology, dam design, environmental, social and cultural impacts, and the potentials costs, benefits, and risks or uncertainties associated with the site.

This study is expected to be completed in 2025, and the government says it will use the results to help identify the most effective, responsible, and cost-effective approach to water storage.

Top-ranked sites may undergo a full feasibility study in the future.

In addition to this study, feasibility studies are being conducted for an Ardley reservoir and Eyremore dams, and the province launched a $125 million Drought and Flood Protection Program.