June 11, 2025: CANCID: Irrigation Water Quality Initiatives in Southern Alberta with Janelle Villeneuve
Heure : 11 juin 2025 - 12 h 00 (heure des Rocheuses)
Speaker: Janelle Villeneuve, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation
Topic: Irrigation Water Quality Initiatives in Southern Alberta
Description :
Irrigation is essential for high agricultural production and crop diversity in semi-arid regions such as southern Alberta. With nearly 75% of Canada’s irrigation occurring in Alberta’s irrigation districts, the management and maintenance of irrigation water quality is highly important in this region. The Irrigation District Water Quality program, led by Alberta’s irrigation districts, has been evaluating the quality of irrigation water in southern Alberta since 2006, with program goals of maintaining or improving irrigation water quality, enabling proactivity to address water quality concerns and demonstrating stewardship of water resources. There are currently 72 sites monitored across nine irrigation districts. Evaluation of the program’s long-term dataset of nutrients, salinity, physical characteristics, Escherichia coli, and pesticides generally show improving or stable water quality trends. On a local scale, annual district-specific data is used to focus water and land management decisions and direct resources to priority areas and parameters to ensure excellent quality irrigation water for all users. Additionally, data collected for the Irrigation District Water Quality program has served as a foundation for many secondary projects that have addressed data gaps or areas of concern within irrigation districts. These include investigation of the effect of irrigation returns on river water quality, sources of nutrients in irrigation water to aid in the management of aquatic plants in canals, and the use of bioreactors for treatment of agricultural drainage water.
Informations sur la série de webinaires :
Le Comité canadien des irrigations et du drainage est heureux d'annoncer sa série de webinaires 2024/2025. Il s'agit du quatrième et dernier webinaire dans le cadre de la série de webinaires CANCID.
