Water transfer plan studied

Water transfer plan studied Water diversion scheme considered Four options for moving water from the Red Deer River to dry east J country via canal or pipeline are being considered. At present, the Nevis Canal option appears most economical. ,/ , i Approximate I area affected I by project I ^ ted Deal NQ Dry Island Buffalo Jump Prov. park Ml . Option Farrel ^ Chin Lakes Scale in km 10 20 Source: Alberta Environment Map by GREG NEIMAN By JIM LOZERON of The Advocate A major water transfer plan that would tap the Red Deer River to quench the thirst of drought- stricken southeastern Alberta is mov­ing forward with the Alberta government's blessing. A committee, with representa­tives from Alberta Agriculture, Alberta Environment and the Alberta Water Resources Com­mission, has completed the first phase of study to move water to the head of the Berry and Sound­ing Creeks just north of Hanna, according to officials. As part of the proposal, the special areas board has applied to the Energy Resources Conser­vation Board for permission to build a hydroelectric generating station at the Dickson Dam. The special areas board admin­isters more than five million acres of dry grassland south of Coronation for Alberta Munici­pal Affairs. Brought under government control in 1938 after 37 munici­palities went bankrupt, Special Areas 2, 3 and 4 rely heavily on agriculture. But a severe drought the past two years depleted already tight water supplies, forcing ranchers to move cattle to other areas of the province for grazing in order to avoid selling their herds. " We have had a constant prob­lem with water in all the towns and villages because of the low level of rainfall and the fact that groundwater levels have dropped to a point where they are no longer able to get good quality water," special areas board chairman Ab Grover said. " We are at the point now where we are no longer able to continue to see the country dry up." The second stage of the three-phase study will examine the en­vironmental impact of the plan, including the ability of the Red Deer River to supply up to 250 cubic feet per second for as many as 150 days days a year, be­tween spring and fall. Enough water is collected be­hind the $ 160- million Dickson Dam, opened in 1984, during peak flow periods to ensure a minimum flow of 560 cubic feet per second. Please see PRELIMINARY, Page 2A