SMRID pleased with the current storage levels

Posted on September 11, 2026 by Sunny South News

By Heather Cameron
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

David Westwood, general manager of the St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID), said that SMRID is pleased with the current storage levels within the district at this stage of the 2026 irrigation season.

“So far, we are on track to meet our targets for fall/winter storage,” said Westwood. “Our Board of Directors considers a number of factors when determining allocation for the season. May and June saw suppressed demand for irrigation following significant precipitation. This, combined with ample storage this spring, has put the District on track to meet 2026/2027 winter storage targets.”

Warmer temperatures over winter 2024-2025, Westwood explained, resulted in a significant amount of melting and runoff, which was captured in headworks reservoirs, adding 155,000 ac-ft of stored water to the St. Mary project over winter 2025-2026. 

“Thanks to that reservoir storage, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation was able to capture and store that early meltwater for use throughout the irrigation season,” added Westwood. 

Thus far in 2026, Westwood also explained, SMRID has received an average of 11 inches of rainfall which stifled irrigation demand in May and June. As such, Westwood stated, the Board of Directors increased allocation to 15 inches on June 5, 16 inches on June 24, and 17 inches on July 29. Sustained heat in July and August has resulted in a significant increase in irrigation demand, Westwood stated. All SMRID reservoirs held close to operating FSL until early in July when demand gradually increased, Westwood noted, allowing reservoirs to draw down, and as of August, District storage levels are all within the operating curves.

Westwood continued to say that an initial allocation was set at 14 inches in March 2026 based on early-season modelling and data, but as further details about the actual water supply was determined, adjustments were made with the goal of balancing water availability, irrigation demand and end of season storage targets.

“The St. Mary River Irrigation District’s Board carefully considers the current supply and demand modelling data supplied by Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation’s Water Basin Management Branch during irrigation season, as well as snowpack data in the winter,” said Westwood. “Allocation is set after examining available data in the spring and makes adjustments as needed throughout the season.”

The SMRID, Westwood said, owns and operates 15 reservoirs within the District, and all of them have varying storage capacities, and the storage reservoirs, have a combined capacity of 317,000 ac-ft. and they are always working on improving things.

In accordance with this, Westwood says, the SMRID announced in July 2026 an additional 1,500 expansion acres supported by canal-to-pipeline conversions and water efficiencies have already been realized through projects completed through the Alberta Irrigation Modernization Program.

“St. Mary River Irrigation District continues to focus on modernizing infrastructure to create efficiencies to support sustainable expansion,” said Westwood.