Ditchriders
Water users must contact their area ditchrider to order water 48 hours before they need it at the farm gate. They also must inform their ditchrider 24 hours in advance of shutdown.  Ditchriders provide information about water supply and canal conditions in their immediate area.

Dwight Gittel - Chestermere
Phone: 899-4638

Don Brownlee - Carseland
Phone: 899-4641

Vacant - Strathmore
Phone: 325-4601

Wes Sproule - Rockyford
Phone: 325-4640

 Pat Smith - Gleichen/Cluny
Phone: 325-4642

Peter Birkinshaw - Crowfoot
Phone:  325-4639
 

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There are three main types of water service agreements:

1. Irrigation Acres:  these agreements are a permanent assessment on the parcel and remain as such, regardless of ownership.  They are viewed as an asset to the land, and notification appears on the title indicating that the parcel of land is within the Western Irrigation District.  (Please note that some titles bear reference to obsolete instruments, which will be removed in the near future.  Notification on title is not a reliable method of determining whether or not a parcel has Irrigation Acres  water rights.)  The current policy on Irrigation Acres water rights is that any new  agreements must be for a minimum of 50 acres. Any new parcels must be added to the the District by registering a notification on the title ($200 per parcel, plus GST), and will be assessed a Capital Assets Charge (currently $25/acre plus GST).  The rate for Irrigation Acres water rights is $16.25/acres plus GST, with a minimum parcel charge of $450 plus GST.

2. Terminable:  these agreements are not permanent and do not transfer with a change in title.  Any change to a title renders this type of agreement invalid.  These agreements are not subject to any notification fees or Capital Assets Charge.  The rate for Terminable water rights is $18.00/acre plus GST with a minimum charge of $450 plus GST.

3. Household:  there are three types of Household agreements (these agreements do not transfer with title):

a. Basic Household (HHLDD): this is normally a stock watering agreement; the rate is $450.00 plus GST;
b. Household-Reduced-Storage(HHLDR): this is also a stock watering agreement, however, the landowner must have a dugout with a two week storage capacity; the rate is $270.00 plus GST;
c. Household Yard & Garden (HHLDYG): this is an agreement which allows for the watering of lawns and gardens up to three acres in area; the rate is $320.00 plus GST.

It is important to stress that water may not be removed from the District's irrigation works without a valid agreement; to do so is in contravention of the Irrigation Districts Act.

When an application is received, information relevant to the application is compiled, and then presented to the Board of Directors at a Board meeting.  The decision of the Board is then communicated to the applicant.  When applying to cancel an agreement, notice must be received, in writing, before March 1 for Household agreements and May 1 for Irrigation Acres or Terminable supply agreements.  It must be stressed, that application to cancel Irrigation Acres water rights does not ensure that the Board will be able to cancel these agreements due to constraints within the Irrigation Districts Act.
 
 

Land Classification for irrigation is the systematic examination, description, appraisal and grouping of land on the basis of physical and chemical characteristics affecting its suitability for sustained production under irrigated agriculture.

Whenever a landowner wants to add Irrigation Acres or Terminable water rights to a parcel of land, the Irrigation Districts Act (sections 94 & 95 )  requires a Level II land classification report.  This report provides information about the irrigability of a parcel of land, with respect to chemical factors of the soil, as well as the local topography.

Western Irrigation District has a number of Level II reports on file, as does AAFRD, Irrigation Branch in Lethbridge.  These reports are available at our office.  Also available at our office are Level III reports.  Level III reports are not acceptable to add irrigation, however, they are a fairly good indicator for landowners to decide whether or not to pursue a Level II.  If we do not have a Level II report on file, it is the landowner's responsibility to obtain such a report.  There are several certified Land Consultants in Alberta, and a list is available from our office.

The requirements for the report and map(s)  which make up a formal land classification, are outlined in the "Standards for the Classification of Land for Irrigation in the Province of Alberta".  Copies of these Standards are available at the District office or from Alberta Agriculture Irrigation Branch in Lethbridge.

While the landowner is responsible for the cost of the Land Classification, the Board Western Irrigation District will provide a rebate, subject to certain conditions.  Currently, the landowner will be reimbursed for the cost of the Land Classification, up to the maximum of the first year's assessment (based on the rate for Irrigation Acres  water rights), provided that water rights are signed within two years of the Land Classification being completed.  The rebate is applied to the first year's assessment for the new water rights.

The procedure is as follows :

•  The landowner, with assistance from Western Irrigation District, outlines the area to be investigated. We have found that our inventory of aerial photos is quite useful for this outline.
•  The landowner hires an accredited consultant to prepare a Level II report and map.
•  The consultant prepares the report(s) and map(s) for the landowner, and submits all originals (soil logs, maps, lab. analyses etc.) to the Alberta Agriculture, Land Evaluation and Reclamation Branch for review. 
•  If all materials are considered acceptable, the report and map(s) will be signed by Alberta Agriculture, and copies will be returned to the consultant.  All original material will be retained by Land Evaluation and Reclamation Branch.
• The landowner is responsible for providing the report to the Western Irrigation District.  We also require a copy of the consultant's invoice if a rebate is applicable.

If any assistance or information is required, we invite landowners to contact Western Irrigation District at 934-3542.