The Development of an Irrigation District -- Walsh AB CAN - Alberta Heritage Markers on Waymarking.com

This historical marker is placed in the highway pullout near the Walsh Alberta rest area. The marker is a few feet west of the Assinboia historical marker just a few feet off of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border.

The marker reads as follows:

"THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IRRIGATION DISTRICT

You have just entered the Eastern Irrigation District (EID), located within the Palliser Triangle (the semi-arid area of the Western prairies). The Triangle, named after the Palliser Expedition of 1857-60, was thought to be of insignificant agricultural value. Today, the fertile farmland within the EID is renowned for its productive crops, rich grasslands, oasis like communities and inviting recreational sites. All this thanks to water, the foresight and labours of our predecessors and the continued commitment in managing this essential resource.

Having been granted 3 million acres of land in southern Alberta by the Government of Canada in 1903 as final payment for the completion of the country's first transcontinental railway, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) conceived a plan to irrigate large amounts of the land to sustain agriculture and attract settlers. The Bassano dam (diversion point off the Bow River), Lake Newell reservoir, Brooks aqueduct and many of the large canals and reservoirs were constructed between 1910-1914. Smaller canals and ditches were subsequently built to convey water directly to the farms.

The CPR operated this irrigation system with mixed success for 20 years before the challenges associated with the 1929 market crash, great drought and economic depression in the 1930s prompted change. Many farmers who were unable to grow or market their product and in turn make their payments, had to move elsewhere. For the same reasons, the operation of the irrigation system also became a non-profitable venture for the CPR. By the mid-1930s, urged by frustrations over water delivery, classification of irritable land and dispute resolutions, to name a few, a group of farmers and ranchers organized to negotiate with the CPR to take over the system. The negotiations culminated in 1935 with the CPR turning over the entire irrigation conveyance system (including the Bassano dam, canals, flumes and reservoirs), all the land from the original land grant still owned by the CPR and $300,000 operating cash. This group of farmers and ranchers, once formally organized through an act of the Alberta government, became the Eastern irrigation district on April 23, 1935.

Sustainable water use from the Bow River is governed through a system of licenses with the provincial government, with diversion, conveyance, consumption, return flows and water quality being measured and monitored throughout the district. An intricate network of over 3,800 km of canals and drains (1,240 km pipelined), with 2,500 water control structures and 13 storage reservoirs has continuously been improved through the district reinvesting and rehabilitation, automation and technology. District incentive grants for landowners have assisted in encouraging more efficient on-farm methods of irrigation, allowing the EID to expand the irrigated land base to over 300,000 acres while using less water. The Bassano dam, extensively refurbished in the 1980s, is the only piece of original (circa 1914) irrigation infrastructure still in use today. Immediately west of the structure is a $46 million emergency spillway constructed for future flood events after the flood in 2013 extremely tested the Bassano dam. Both major projects and select smaller projects have been cost-shared with the Province of Alberta.

Irrigated farmland in Alberta (comprised of 13 irrigation districts) accounts for 5% of the total agricultural land yet produces 20% of the agricultural product and half the raw product for the food processing industry. Approximately 45 different crops are grown, where without irrigation, possibly only 10 crops could be grown with limited success. Irrigated agriculture stabilizes and supports the local economy through the conveyance of water for residential, commercial, industrial and recreational uses. In addition the 580,000 acres of mostly native pastor owned by the EID affords community grazing to approximately 20,000 privately owned cow/calf pairs and the development of over 8,400 oil and gas wells.

The grasslands and irrigation reservoirs also make available extensive public recreational opportunities in many forms including hunting, fishing, boating or camping and one of the established Grounds located on the three largest reservoirs. Wildlife, both rare and common, flourishing these grasslands, reservoirs and wetlands. Through the District's Partners and Habitat Development Program and partnering with Ducks Unlimited wetland projects, additional habitat areas are created and supported.

Irrigators strongly support sharing water to achieve multiple benefits. As a result, the EID has brought prosperity, stability and stewardship to the residence and resources of this arid region. The district is recognized as a leader in managing water for a sustainable economy while supporting a healthy ecosystem and is committed to the efficient and responsible use of water, our most valuable resource."

Type of Marker: Could be Classified as Both Sign Age: Other Parking: easy to park - it's a pull out Placement agency: Eastern Irrigation District

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/05/2023 Benchmark Blasterz visited it