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Drought in some central Alberta regions may have farmers and other members of the rural community thinking twice about using water.
Large areas of the province are extremely dry, with some smaller areas classified as exceptionally dry, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's drought monitor.
Nationally, Canada hasn't seen a drought this severe since the early 2000s, agri-climate scientist Trevor Hadwen said.
Some of the most severe cases are concentrated in British Columbia, southern Ontario and the Maritimes. Regions of the Northwest Territories also experienced an exceptionally dry fall.
Hadwen said he's not too concerned about most of those regions catching up on moisture during the winter months, but it's a different story for the Alberta and British Columbia regions.
He said large swaths of central Alberta received less than 40 per cent of normal rainfall in October. Some regions received only five millimeters of rain.
“These conditions have led to loss of water supplies, poor soil moisture and even lower levels of some lakes,” Hadwen said.
He said he was particularly concerned about the conditions reported in the Peace River area, located about 500 kilometers northwest of Edmonton.
Hadwen said the area has been experiencing an exceptional drought that began back in August.
“Dry soil in the fall will affect your pastures next year and more,” he said. “But the real problem now is water supply.
“We need as much moisture as possible before the freeze in this region to try to replenish water supplies from both a municipal and agricultural perspective.”
Hadwen said if the Peace River region doesn't receive enough rainfall before extreme cold hits the province, local officials may have to consider imposing water restrictions even during the winter.
Dawson Creek, a town in British Columbia near the provincial border with Alberta, is also experiencing exceptional drought this fall. Last month, the city declared a state of emergency that included water restrictions due to drought.
“What's in [the water systems] Essentially this is what will be available in the winter as the snow has to melt before we get more moisture into this system. So, again, this is a pretty critical period,” Hadwen said.
Water restrictions and dry conditions could mean lower yields next year, according to Andre Harp, chairman of the Canadian Canola Growers Association.
He has been farming in Grand Prairie County for over 30 years. But this year has seen the worst drought he says he's ever seen.
“If you start digging into the soil, you can really see how dry it is,” Harp said. “Obviously, since we've had rain showers and snow showers, we have some moisture on top. But once you start going down, it gets dry.
“I'm very worried about next year because … we can't have a crop failure before we plant. At the same time, we'll need a significant amount of snow to restore moisture levels in the soil.”
Harp said he's already considering taking precautions during the winter months, such as adjusting the amount of fertilizer he typically uses and being extra careful about the amount of water he uses.
He said neighboring farms and communities would suffer if water restrictions went into effect, especially for livestock farmers, and many were preparing to actively reduce their water use.
Harp said he can't take any other precautions until they have a better idea of what the winter will look like.
“We thought last year was dry. And I didn't think it could get any worse, but it did,” he said.
“This is unprecedented. So, you know, we really don't know what's going to happen next year.”
In early October, the Alberta government committed about $25 million to improve infrastructure as part of its drought and flood program.
The province is also working to increase water availability and improve water management in Alberta.
