South Saskatchewan River Basin water management plan

Overview

The water management plan for the South Saskatchewan River recommends a balance that is broadly acceptable to the public between water consumption and environmental protection, in light of economic and social objectives and ecological requirements. The plan envisions future management in the basin combining innovative, efficient and productive water use and improved management of aquatic ecosystems. The plan also provides a foundation for future watershed management planning in the South Saskatchewan River Basin (SSRB).

• Alberta Implements Water Management Plan for the South Saskatchewan River Basin News Release
• Approved Water Management Plan for the South Saskatchewan River Basin
• Highlights of Approved Water Management Plan for the South Saskatchewan River Basin
• Questions and Answers on the Approved Water Management Plan for the South Saskatchewan River Basin
• South Saskatchewan River Basin Consultation on Draft Water Management Plan
• South Saskatchewan River Basin Water Management Plan: Phase Two Recommendations

A key outcome of the plan is a Crown reservation of water for the Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan River sub-basins. By establishing this, the Minister of Alberta Environment and Parks identifies purposes for which water licences may still be granted and their priorities, from the unallocated water in these sub-basins.

River flows and advisories

• Alberta River Basins

Legislation and policy

Provincial legislation, regulations and policy that govern how water is managed in the SSRB specifically, including water allocation transfer information.

For further information on water legislation, policy, plans and administration subjects for the entire province, please see Water legislation and guidelines.

Acts

• Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act
• Water Act

Regulations under the Water Act

• Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan River Basin Water Allocation Order
• Oldman River Basin Water Allocation Order

Water management plans and policies under the Water Act

• Approved Water Management Plan for the South Saskatchewan River Basin
• Preparing Water Shortage Response Plans
• Water Allocation Policy for Closed River Basins in the South Saskatchewan River Basin
• Water Conservation Objectives
• Water Management Plan for the Watersheds of the Upper Highwood and Upper Little Bow Rivers: Volume 1
• Water Management Plan for the Watersheds of the Upper Highwood and Upper Little Bow Rivers: Volume 2
• Water Shortage Procedures for the South Saskatchewan River Basin

Water allocation transfers

• Administrative Guideline for Transfer of Water Allocations (and Agreements to Assign Water, and Licence Amendments)
• Authorization Viewer
• Alberta Water Licence viewer
• Water Act: Transferring Water Allocations Under A licence
• Water Allocation Transfer Under a Licence

International treaties and interprovincial agreements

• Apportionment Operations Plan for the South Saskatchewan River
• Boundary Waters Treaty (1909)
• International Joint Commission Order (1921) – Concerning Sharing the Waters of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers (PDF, 2.1 MB)
• Master Agreement on Apportionment (1969)

Information sheets

• South Saskatchewan River Basin water information sheets

Studies

Human use and consumption

• Highwood Little Bow Study-Twin Valley Reservoir
• Meridian Dam Feasibility Study
• Pine Coulee Water Management Project - Pine Coulee Reservoir
• Recreational Flows for the Bow River and its Tributaries
• Recreational Flow for Paddling Along Rivers in Southern Alberta (Oldman, St. Mary, Belly and Waterton Rivers)
• Recreational Flows for the Red Deer River
• South Saskatchewan River Basin Non-Irrigation Water Use Forecasts
• South Saskatchewan River Basin Sub-Basin Contributions to International and Interprovincial Water-Sharing Agreements
• South Saskatchewan River Basin Water Allocation
• South Saskatchewan River Basin Water Management Plan – Phase 2 - Scenario Modeling Results

Aquatic environment

• Analysis of Water Quality Conditions and Trends for the Long-term River Network: Oldman River, 1966-2005
• Aquatic and Riparian Condition Assessment of the South Saskatchewan River Basin
• Flood Recovery Detailed Ambient Water Quality Report
• Impacts on Water Quality in the Upper Elbow River
• Instream Flows Needs Determinations for the South Saskatchewan River Basin
• Strategic Overview of Riparian and Aquatic Condition of the South Saskatchewan River Basin
• Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen in the Oldman River Following Construction of the Oldman River Dam
• Water Quality Monitoring: The basis for Watershed Management in the Oldman River Basin, Canada (PDF, 712 KB)
• Water Quality Study of Waiparous Creek, Fallentimber Creek and Ghost River

Other

• Alberta Report (final) on SSRB Water-sharing with Saskatchewan in 2009 under the Master Agreement on Apportionment
• Alberta Report (Interim) on SSRB Water-sharing with Saskatchewan in 2010 under the Master Agreement on Apportionment
• South Saskatchewan Regional Plan Surface Water Quality Management Framework: Statistical Methods
• South Saskatchewan River Basin Water Management Plan, Phase Two: Background Studies