An Irrigation Manager's Viewpoint on River Management

Based on a speech given by Jim Webber
General Manager
Eastern Irrigation District
October 14, 1994

Irrigation is the largest user of southern Alberta rivers

All people living alongside the Bow River have a stake in the discussions about water quality in the river. By being part of a discussion on water quality, we become part of the solution.

A River Has No Voice

If you want to know the state of your health, you arrange a medical examination followed by a doctor's lecture on having regular exercise, etc. However, a river has no voice, can't complain, has few check-ups and has only a few signals that it may be ill.

City Stormwater

Irrigation is the largest user of water from the Bow River. Water withdrawal for irrigation and the dilution of Calgary's wastewater effluent sometimes work against each other. The more water that is withdrawn for irrigation, the less water is available to dilute wastewater and stormwater added to the river. In 1994, the town of Bassano recorded unacceptable levels of E. Coli bacteria in the Bow River on 14 separate occasions, mostly following rainstorms in the Calgary area.

Analyzing Water Samples

Irrigators have no trouble collecting daily water samples but we need help in analyzing the samples. Our interest is in monitoring temperatures critical to fish during low flow summer months; algae scraped from rocks; waterweed biomass which can deoxygenate habitat and slow the speed of canal flows; sediment samples; invertebrates as an indication of river diversity and food chain relationships; and fish tissue which concentrates metals and pesticides.

Energy and Care Needed

In conclusion, the river is a very big and complex organism that must be looked at as a complete unit. We need to analyze the Bow River better and treat it with respect. All river users must take-on the task and be watchful. Our energy and care is needed so that our friend the Bow River can remain healthy.

For more information on irrigation, go to Eastern Irrigation District.