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Traditional Agricultural Registrations

Crown land leaseholders may apply for a registration if they used water for raising animals or applying pesticides to crops before January 1, 1999.

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Apply by December 31, 2028

Traditional agricultural registration applications are open for unpatented Crown land until December 31, 2028.

Overview

A Traditional Agricultural Registration is an authorization under the Water Act which allows eligible historical agricultural water uses to be formally registered. The Water Act enabled agricultural water users who used water prior to January 1, 1999, to raise animals or apply pesticides to crops to register their water use (up to 6,250 m3) and receive a priority number based off the date of first use.

Amendments to the Water Act, proclaimed on March 11, 2026, restores the ability to register traditional agricultural water uses on unpatented Crown land.

Farmers and ranchers on public land who could not register by the original 2001 deadline can now apply. This registration can apply to grazing lease holders on public lands who used water for stock watering before January 1, 1999. Registrations on private land will not be re-opening.

Read the Traditional Agricultural Registration fact sheet for more information.

Eligibility

You can apply to register if you owned or occupied land before January 1, 1999, and:

  • used water from a source adjacent to that land
  • used the water for the purpose of raising animals or applying pesticides
  • can demonstrate water use from the source of water on or before January 1, 1999

Eligible water use includes water from dugouts, natural watercourses (like creeks, rivers, streams and lakes), springs and groundwater wells.

You cannot register water:

  • sources on private land
  • used for purposes other than stock watering or pesticide application
  • from non-natural sources (like irrigation districts or reservoirs)
  • stored and diverted from dams
  • sources that required a licence under the Water Resources Act or Water Act

Application

As the leaseholder, it is your responsibility to apply for a Traditional Agricultural Registration.

Applicants are recommended to contact Environment and Protected Areas registration staff to discuss the registration before an application is submitted.

Applications must include:

  • contact information
  • detailed maps showing all water sources being used
  • legal land description of the sources
  • date of first use
  • livestock water requirement worksheet
  • estimated volume of water diverted from each source
  • additional information may be requested during the review of the application

Download the Traditional Agricultural Registrations – Application form. It can be completed and signed digitally or printed and filled out. Completed application forms and supporting information should be submitted through email or mail.

Contact

Connect with Environment and Protected Areas:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 403-381-5322
Water Act inquiries: [email protected] 
EPEA inquiries: [email protected]

Traditional Agricultural Registrations:
Phone: 403-381-5285
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Environment and Protected Areas – Registrations
2nd Floor, Provincial Building
200 5 Avenue South 
Lethbridge, Alberta  T1J 4L1

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