With Alberta experiencing unprecedented wildfires in 2023 and with a potentially devastating drought predicted for the summer of 2024, the work of a newly-constituted advisory committee looking at water management in the province will be vitally important to rural and urban communities alike.
Whether the government-appointed panel will be able to find meaningful solutions to what is undeniably a very serious problem facing this province remains to be seen.
What is known is that getting started now on addressing the multifaceted issue of water management and conservation is the right move.
The six-person drought advisory committee includes leaders with experience in agriculture, irrigation, Indigenous, industry, rural and urban issues. It will give advice directly to the minister of Alberta Environment and Protected Areas.
“When it comes to water, we are all in it together,” said minister Rebecca Schulz. “This committee will provide me with ideas and perspectives from leaders across the province. They will help identify new or better ways to support families, farms, ranches and businesses if we face a severe drought this year.
“The committee will act as an independent sounding board to help the government support communities, farmers and ranchers, and businesses share, conserve and manage water during a potential drought.”
The committee’s membership includes the president of Rural Municipalities of Alberta.
While Alberta has not seen a truly devastating drought in many years, the potential for such a calamity this summer and going forward cannot and should not be ignored.
And make no mistake, a protracted, widespread drought would have far-reaching and serious ramifications on Alberta’s vital agriculture industry, including in this district.
“The work of this committee will be essential to maximizing and finding efficiencies that will ensure as much water as possible is conserved to produce the food that feeds our families, both here and abroad,” said RJ Sigurdson, minister of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.
Residents here and across the province will no doubt be wishing this new advisory committee success in its critical task.
Dan Singleton is an editor to the Albertan.
