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New drought advisory committee established in Alberta

Alberta has put together a new advisory committee to help address drought and water levels in the province.

After several dry years, Alberta’s winter snowpack is well below average, many rivers are at record low levels and multiple reservoirs remain well below capacity. El Niño is producing a warm and dry winter across Western Canada and more than 70 per cent of the country is experiencing drought conditions. Alberta is at risk of a severe drought in parts of the province this year.

The six-person advisory committee includes leaders with experience in agriculture, irrigation, Indigenous, industry, rural and urban issues. It will act as an independent sounding board to help the government support communities, farmers, ranchers and businesses share, conserve and manage water during a potential drought. The committee will give advice directly to Alberta’s minister of environment and protected areas.

Alberta says it is taking action to prepare for a potential drought and to find ways to help maximize the province’s water supplies.

In the coming months, the water advisory committee will meet regularly to discuss and debate ideas on how best to prepare for and respond to drought, give feedback on work already underway and suggest new ways to help manage water as fairly and efficiently as possible. The members will also help identify long-term solutions to benefit future generations.

Along with the advisory committee, Alberta’s government will continue working with municipalities, water users, farmers, industry, First Nations and others to help prepare for the risk of severe drought this year.

The Water Advisory Committee will include:

• Justin Wright, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat
• Paul McLauchlin, reeve of Ponoka County and president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta
• Ian Anderson, former CEO of Trans Mountain
• Alex Ostrop, chair of the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association
• Jack Royal, CEO of the Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council
• Tanya Thorn, mayor of Okotoks and director, Towns South on the board of Alberta Municipalities