The first phase of a three-phase megaproject in province’s Lake Diefenbaker region could begin construction next year
REGINA — Rehabilitating the Westside Irrigation Project at Lake Diefenbaker will boost gross domestic product by at least $5.9 billion over 50 years, according to the Saskatchewan government. The economic analysis of the proposed project, the first of three, was done by KPMG LLP and released Sept. 26. It said the $1.15 billion project will […] Read moreTag Archives Lake Diefenbaker
Governments top up payments to Saskatchewan livestock producers
The Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program accepted applications until March 15 and is now making final payments to eligible producers
REGINA — Livestock producers who enrolled in Saskatchewan’s drought relief program last fall will get additional payments within a few weeks. Agriculture minister David Marit announced April 8 that there is enough money within the Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program to add to the initial payments of $150 per head. The top-up will be up to $50 […] Read more
Sask. reservoirs mostly full
REGINA — Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency said April 3 that it expects most of the province’s reservoirs to fill this spring. The agency said 33 of the 45 major reservoirs are near full or will fill, and six more are between 70 and 90 percent full and still filling. The remaining six that won’t fill […] Read more
Sask. goes it alone on irrigation development
Premier Scott Moe says construction costs are rising and the provincial government will allocate funding as the project proceeds in phases
REGINA — Saskatchewan will begin constructing the first phase of its Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project on its own after it was unable to secure Ottawa as a financial partner. Premier Scott Moe announced last week that the $1.15 billion Westside Irrigation Project would be cost-shared with producers at a ratio that hasn’t yet been determined. […] Read more
Sask. watches water levels closely
REGINA — The head of Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency says the province is watching Alberta’s preparation for potential water shortages with concern but also with the security of Lake Diefenbaker behind it. Chief executive officer Shawn Jaques said the situations are different because of the “gem” reservoir created in the 1960s. He said aside from […] Read more
Sask. irrigators keep their eyes on water supply
Levels at Lake Diefenbaker were lower than usual going into winter but still significant; province’s snow cover also low
MEDICINE HAT — River flow, low mountain snowpack and reservoirs struggling to fill in southern Alberta haven’t escaped the attention of irrigators in Saskatchewan as the traditional wet spring becomes critical. Mountain snowpack levels across Alberta’s Eastern Slopes as well as those in Montana that feed into the St. Mary and Milk rivers are well […] Read more
Prairie water users watch mountain snowpack
Alberta officials say the region’s moisture shortage remains dire but stress the situation could easily turn itself around
MEDICINE HAT — The best greeting for farmers attending last week’s Irrigation Production Conference was the dump of snow outside the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre in Lethbridge. Inside, the need for that type of precipitation was laid bare in order to avoid a water shortage this year. The numbers tell the tale as to […] Read more
Sask. irrigation interrupted due to concerns over pump
Pumping capacity from Lake Diefenbaker was restored along Saskatchewan’s main irrigation canal last week after mechanical issues at the Eastside pumping station. Irrigators agreed to not water their crops from about July 7-10, leaving at least 48,000 acres without water, so that the Water Security Agency could fix the problem. Steve Primrose, chair of the […] Read more
Sask. irrigators left without water for weekend
At least one irrigator wondered how this could happen, especially during a weekend expected to be extremely hot. “The crops are burning and we have heavy damage coming up,” said Jan Konst.
