Province investigating water storage infrastructure improvements in southern Alberta

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on September 19, 2025.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

Alberta’s government is undertaking a review of water storage infrastructure in the southern Alberta region.

The province has hired engineering consulting firm WSP Canada to study whether a dam and a reservoir should be built on the Belly River. WSP will also be asked to suggest possible improvements to the Waterton and St. Mary Headworks System, which brings water from the Rocky Mountains across southern Alberta to Medicine Hat.

“We are looking for ways to improve water security to guard against drought and flood and help our farmers and ranchers feed the world. We are taking a whole-government approach to managing and maintaining provincial water infrastructure systems to make sure Albertans continue to have a safe, reliable water supply,” said RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

The proposed reservoir on Belly River would be about five kilometres northwest of Mountain View in Cardston County.

“We are excited to see this feasibility study going forward, and we look forward to its results. Irrigation is the lifeblood of agriculture in southern Alberta,” said Fred Rice, district manager of the United Irrigation District.

The province’s water management infrastructure provides a water supply for irrigation, municipal, industrial, agricultural and recreational use.

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