Drought-Proofing Farm Water Supplies

The severe province-wide drought in the early 2000’s reaffirmed the importance and value of water to rural people across the Canadian prairies. Dry wells and dugouts, crop failures and dust storms were all commonplace.

During the drought, farmers scrambled to find sufficient water for their homes and livestock. Water hauling by truck and miles of water pipelines could be seen everywhere. Thousands of larger dugouts and deeper wells were constructed to replace failed water supplies.

The financial, technical and equipment resources of farmers, industry, provincial and federal governments were all stretched to the limit in addressing this problem. The most positive aspect of the drought was people working together and redefining water management.

During the mid ‘70’s to the mid ‘80’s, agricultural water management often meant “drain and develop.” Thousands of acres of sloughs and wetlands were drained to provide more land for agriculture.

The drought reaffirmed the value of these areas in recharging groundwater sources and providing back-up surface water supplies and wildlife habitat. In some areas, dams constructed by four-legged engineers (beavers) provided the only source of livestock water for miles. Many traditional sources of livestock water, including sloughs and small dugouts, were dry.

You can get more information about Drought Proofing Farm Water Supplies at the Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development Website.

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