MEDICINE HAT — The MLA for a community that declared a state of local emergency due to low water levels in December says the province will help it find solutions. Doug Steele, Saskatchewan Party MLA for the Cypress Hills riding, said he is in regular contact with officials in Leader, Sask., and although there isn’t […] Read more
Alex McCuaig
Stories by Alex McCuaig
Bill to ban flights for live horses now in committee
MEDICINE HAT — A bill to ban the transport by air of live horses for slaughter is making its way through Parliament and is now under review by the agriculture committee. Private member’s Bill C-355 passed second reading in the House earlier this year after introduction by Liberal MP Tim Louis. “I bring forth this […] Read more
Water woes weigh on ranchers
MEDICINE HAT — Cattle producers face headwinds in 2024 ranging from higher rates of open cattle to depleted pastures and worries about water shortages and fires. The situation weighs heavily on Kim Wachtler, who ranches along Alberta’s Cowboy Trail near Claresholm, Alta. Related stories in this issue: Communities feel pinch as river levels plummet Sask. […] Read more
Repairs underway at irrigation canal
MEDICINE HAT — Repairs continue on the canal leading from the Oldman Dam reservoir headworks to the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District canal, with expectations the system will be operational by spring. The section of canal has been plagued with problems. In 2022, access to the headworks was restricted due to a dispute between the reservoir’s […] Read more
Communities feel pinch as river levels plummet
Interprovincial water agreement under scrutiny as drought conditions in southern Alberta take their toll on region’s rivers
MEDICINE HAT — Pressure on Alberta rivers due to sustained dry conditions last fall forced a Saskatchewan town to declare a state of emergency in early December. Combined flow rates from both the Red Deer and South Saskatchewan rivers fell below 42.5 cubic metres per second (cms), according to provisional hydrometric data. That led the […] Read more
Low water levels affect southern Alta. power generation
Irrigation canals were shut down several weeks early in September last year, limiting ability to produce electricity
MEDICINE HAT — Hydropower in Alberta makes up a small portion of electricity production in the province but it’s still an important source of energy. Recent low levels on southern Alberta rivers have affected the amount of electricity generated by Irrican Power, owned by the St. Mary River and Raymond irrigation districts, and by TransAlta. […] Read more
Beavers can mitigate drought threat: analyst
The dams that these animals build help create and maintain water sources for livestock and preserve wetlands
MEDICINE HAT — An Alberta conservation group is promoting beaver habitat as a way to keep water on the land amid rising drought concerns in the province. “Beavers can provide benefits and always have provided benefits from an environmental perspective but also from an ecosystem goods and services perspective with drought and flood mitigation,” said […] Read more
Sask. optimistic about sunflowers
MEDICINE HAT — Sunflower acres in Saskatchewan aren’t huge but a producer organization that supports the sector says there is potential to expand the crop for oilseed, confectionary and birdseed markets. Elaine Moats, Saskatchewan Sunflower Committee vice-president, said sunflowers are native to the province, which gives them natural attributes. “It’s our only native oilseed crop,” […] Read more
Alta. could declare water emergency: minister
Provincial government begins negotiations on water sharing agreements as it prepares for worst-case scenarios this year
MEDICINE HAT — An early February snowfall in Alberta from Red Deer south provided a reprieve to the province as it faces one of its worst droughts in decades. But conditions are challenging and the province is gearing up to face them. The government hosted a town hall meeting to inform stakeholders before launching its […] Read more
Burned elevator played big role in Sask. organic sector
MEDICINE HAT — When fire devastated the Loreburn, Sask., elevator owned by F.W. Cobs, the Vermont-based president of the company, Shaun Brooks, visited the site to talk with community officials and survey the damage. “The community means a lot him. He’s spent a lot of time up there the 15 years we’ve been there so […] Read more
