Geographical Context
Where is the Chin Reservoir?
Figure: Series of maps going from major river basins of Alberta, to subbasins in the South Saskatchewan River Basin, to the expanse of the St. Mary River Irrigation District. [25] [26] [27]
Who lives near the Chin Reservoir?
The Chin Reservoir is situated on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani First Nations. Historically, Indigenous Peoples have been excluded from discourse around water governance which has led to conflict around water access.
Irrigation districts involved in the Chin Reservoir project:
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St. Mary River Irrigation District
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Includes the Taber Irrigation District
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Services 2,000 irrigators [28]
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Raymond Irrigation District
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Services over 300 water users [29]
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Who uses water from the irrigation district water licenses?
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Farmers
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Municipalities
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Acreages
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Natural habitat
Environment of the South Saskatchewan River Basin
Hover over the boxes to learn about the role of the landscape! [30]
The majority of water that flows through the basin originates in the mountains and falls as snow during the winter months.
Headwaters
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Long cold winters and short, generally dry, summers
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High winds are common
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Low humidity
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Minimal cloud coverage leads to high solar radiation
Climate:
cold & semi-arid
The Chin Reservoir is located within the grassland natural region. Here the majority of precipitation (water) falls during June.
Note: This south-east region has the lowest average summer precipitation of any region in Alberta at 156mm.
Overland Flow
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Rain
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Snow melt
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Glacier melt
Source of water
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Wind
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Sun exposure
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Low humidity
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Lack of ground cover (vegetation)
Source of evaporation
Key Takeaway: With high winds and low cloud coverage, this region is vulnerable to high levels of evaporation from water sources.
Climate Change
Models predict reduced river flows in all sub-basins of the SSRB, why?
temperature
evaporation from bodies of water
Glacier melt has occurred twice as fast in the past few years (2021 – 2024), than during the previous decade (2010 – 2020) [31]. It is predicted most Rocky Mountain glaciers will be melted by the turn of the century.
Historically, glacier melt is a significant source for river flows during the summer when precipitation is low and the snowpack has already melted.
Factors accelerating glacier melt [32]:
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Increasing temperatures;
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Wildfire ash darkening glacier surfaces.
Figure: Peyto glacier retreat from 2019 to 2023 [34]
Likely outcome:
For a short time, glacier-fed rivers will have strong flows.
Once most glaciers are melted out, the flow rate will drastically drop off.
Precipitation amounts are uncertain.
Rain: For the SSRB, some models predict more rainfall , while others predict less, especially during already dry years [21].
Snow [33]:
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The later onset of snow in the fall, and earlier melting in the spring, have led to shorter periods of snow cover over the past four decades. This trend is expected to continue.
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Increasing temperatures = More rain where there was previously snow.
Key Takeaway: Greater variability in water availability will increase both drought frequency and severity in the SSRB [19].
Concerns for Irrigation
Farmers will need more water to irrigate the same amount of land due to increased evaporation from soils and plants.
With water levels predicted to drop, water shortages will lead to water allocation decreases.
Summary: Hotter, and potentially drier conditions will place greater stress on water resources, limit crop growth and significantly reduce agricultural yields [22].
Ideally, improvements in irrigation technologies and practices will help counteract some climate change impacts by reducing the amount of water required to produce the same amount of yield.
Agriculture Impacts on Water Quality
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Eutrophication [35] [36]: When excess nutrients, notably nitrogen and phosphorus, enter rivers and lakes leading to algal blooms.
Consequences of algal blooms:
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Production of harmful toxins
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Less oxygen available in the water = Creation of dead zones
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Aquatic organism death due to dead zones
How does agriculture contribute to these events?
Inefficient irrigation leads to excess water and chemicals flowing off the property and into nearby water bodies.
Overextraction of water leads to lower water levels. Low water levels concentrate pollutants and accelerate the eutrophication process.
Considerations with climate change:
1.
water
=
pollutant concentrate
2.
Dry, drought impact soils
=
runoff
+
water infiltration
Political Context
Alberta Water Governance
How does Alberta govern its water resources?
No matter the origin point, water within Alberta is exclusively controlled by the Government of Alberta. This water is divided among stakeholders through an allocation priority system called First in Time, First in Right [37].
The Result?
The SSRB has the most potential to fail in supplying the allocated water.
Temporary Solutions:
License Transfers
License holders in its sub-basins can reallocate water allotments either temporarily or permanently [40].
Water Sharing Agreements [41] [42] [43]
Senior license holders can agree to take reduced water withdrawals to ensure water for junior license holders.
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These are voluntary, non-legally binding agreements between major water users and stakeholders that shift allocation away from irrigation to other purposes, like human health or livestock (Gov. Alberta, 2025; Dryden, 2024; Banks 2024).
Indigenous Access to Water in Alberta
Indigenous Nations within Alberta have the most precarious legal claim to water. Why?
Original legality through Riparian Rights
When Treaties 6 (1876) and 7 (1877) were signed, they did not directly address water rights BUT they did reference use of reserves for “farming lands” [44] AND at the time, all land bordering waterways had “riparian rights” [45].
A common law rule in Canada that gave the right to access any water within or adjacent to the owned land in “undiminished quality and unimpaired quantity” (Percy, 2022).
What are
"Riparian Rights"?
Muddying of the waters
In 1894, the federal government put in place the North West Irrigation Act, the first use of the “First in Time, First in Right” principle. Now, regardless of proximity to water, every person required a license from the Crown to use water. This act was put in place to enable large scale irrigation projects [45] [46].
The problem: No licenses were applied for by First Nation communities or the Crown-Indigenous Relations & Northern Affairs (formerly known as Department of Indian Affairs) [44]. This opened the door to claims that Alberta’s First Nations lost legal rights (jurisdiction) to water use.
Getting even muddier
Water governance changed hands from federal to provincial jurisdiction in 1930 with the “Natural Resource Transfer Agreement”. This act specifies “all water on or under the surface of the ground” is owned by the Alberta Government, nullifying any other form of right, riparian or other [45].
Searching for a solution
The early 2000’s drought (1998 - 2004) brought to light the issue of water scarcity and water allotment in Southern Alberta.
Alberta’s offer: First Nations were offered to purchase water licenses and gain legal access to water.
The problem: Only junior water licenses were available.
If accepted, First Nation communities would be at the very bottom of the priority list of water allocation, reducing their ability to reliably access sufficient quantities for community needs [47] [48].
This offer was not well received...
First Nation communities and the government of Alberta have been working on a solution ever since.
If passed, interjurisdictional consensus between Indigenous, Provincial, and Federal parties would be required for water management [45].