Christmas Office Hours
The RID office will be closed from December 21 to January 6 for Christmas break. If you need to reach the staff please contact the office at 403-752-3511 as staff will be in the office on a limited basis during the break.
Raymond Director Election
NOTICE OF NOMINATIONS
Irrigation Districts Act, Sections 54, 58 and 59
Local Authorities Election Act, Section 26
LOCAL JURISDICTION: Raymond Irrigation District, PROVINCE OF ALBERTA
Notice is hereby given that the right to file Nominations with the Returning Officer for the election of candidates for the following office will expire at the hour of 4:00 p.m. February 13, 2025.
Office Number of Vacancies Electoral Division
Board Member One Raymond
Location (Address) of Local Jurisdiction Office:
Raymond Irrigation District office located one mile West of Raymond, and one quarter mile North of Highway 52.
Nomination Papers are available at the Raymond Irrigation District (RID) Office.
That area within RID’s North and South boundaries and lying east of the SMRID Main Canal to SE 1-6-20-W4 and bounded east of Secondary HWY 844, NW 31-6-20-W4 to the NE 5-5-20-W4 and West of a line running North and South between sections 14 and 15 of Range 20 West of the 4th Meridian.
Dated at the Town of Raymond in the Province of Alberta this 2nd day of January, 2025.
Jason Miller, Returning Officer
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas – Review of the Water Act:
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (“AEPA”) has recently opened a review of the Water Act of Alberta. This may result in amendments affecting water licenses for irrigation districts, private irrigators, feedlots, and the entire irrigated agriculture sector.
This legislation review needs a strong response from the irrigation and agriculture sector. We ask RID irrigators to join with the RID Board and staff, and the other irrigation districts and their members, to voice concerns and suggestions to AEPA.
UPDATE
AEPA will be hosting an additional Town Hall on January 8, 2025 at 6:45pm in Lethbridge. You must pre-register to attend. The format will include brief remarks followed by a question and answer period. AEPA ADM, Kate Rich, and Deputy Minister, Sherri Wilson, are expected to attend.
Complete Online Surveys:
There is a risk of claw back of our water licenses under the misperception that irrigation districts do not use our full licensed allocations. Irrigation districts have proven that we are responsible stewards of our licenses by reducing use when supply is low and placing the needs of our community, industry and livestock first. Alternately, our licenses enable districts to use water when supply is high and demand is high.
The Alberta government and individual irrigators have invested heavily over decades in the development, rehabilitation and modernization of irrigation storage, conveyance and on-farm irrigation infrastructure, as well as specialized equipment and facilities for value-added crop development and livestock production.
Any claw back of our water licenses now or in future will reduce yield and quality potential, and potentially set up the irrigated agriculture sector for disaster. This risk extends from our irrigators to processors, seed/fertilizer/equipment suppliers, financial, insurance and other secondary services, and ultimately to the communities that grow and thrive in our region as a result of this investment.
Additional Information:
AIDA prepared a document summarizing the Provincial Water Availability Engagement and outlining key messages for the Irrigation sector. The document can be found here.
Reservoir Levels and Snow Pack Reports
Current reservoir levels and snow pack reports are available at on the “Rivers” app or at https://rivers.alberta.ca/