- The agenda for the meeting was approved on motion by Rod Wendorff and carried.
- The Minutes of the May 15, 2024 board meeting were approved on motion by Craig Palmer and carried.
Business Arising
- O&M Report and AIM Project Update:
Cody shared a slideshow of pictures taken over the last month of repairs & maintenance and pipelining activities. Jason reported on the status of each project as follows:
9 Mile & North – The final progress certificate and certificate of substantial completion for phase 3 have been submitted to CIB and GOA. Phase 4 will begin in November. Supplies have been ordered. Pipe from Ipex has started to trickle in. Over the next few weeks, we will finalize the easements, and hydrovac crossings to prepare for the pipelining season.
Gravity Pressure Pipeline System (“GPS”) (AIM Project) – We have submitted the design to Stantec to obtain a proposal for completing a peer review of the project. We hope to receive their proposal in the next 2-3 weeks. At the next Board meeting Darin Wilde will present and overview of the design to the Board for their review.
New Dayton CPR Crossing (IRP 2393) – The project is scheduled for the week of October 21.
8-2 (Internally Funded Project) – The inlet structure is completed. So far this season, we have managed the system using the old infrastructure. Since the season is wrapping up, we will hold off filling the new line until next year.
Smith Estates (Owner Funded) – The project is completed. We will be sending out invoices with the August assessment billing.
A letter is drafted to submit to Irrigation Council on behalf of SMRID and RID requesting an increase to the IRP funding for the project.
Aerial Photos – The aerial photos are currently being taken and will hopefully be completed by the end of August. We expect to receive the finished photos in late fall.
- Snowpack Report / Water Supply Forecast:
The Board reviewed the most recent GOA reservoir report, GOA water supply forecast, and internal RID diversion report. Reservoirs are doing better than excepted at the beginning of the season. Irrigation demand is starting to slow down. We are currently running approximately 170 cfs daily. We anticipate this will continue to slowly drop and then plateau around 130-150 cfs over the next few weeks.
- Irrican Update:
The plants have been on and off all season because of excess energy production throughout the province. The Chin plant is currently off due to a maintenance issue. Unfortunately, the part is very difficult to acquire and it will likely be some time before the plant is up and running.
The Ebar battery project is underway and the Irrican Board just approved a contract with Pronghorn Controls to tie the batteries into the Raymond plant. The batteries should be up and running for the 2025 season.
We are preparing to send out our annual assessment billings within the next week. There are a few changes that need to be inputted into our Water Management System to update the assessment roll before the billings are sent out.
We have received our IRP funding for the year in the amount of $556,438 from the GOA plus district contributions of $185,479 for a total 2024 IRP funds of $741,917. This will go towards the Chin Chute IRP project.
The Board reviewed the AIM, IRP, and district funded projects for 2024 and 2025. We anticipate using $2.2M from reserves to complete all the projects. The good news is that the $2.2M will be recovered from IRP funding the district receives over the next 3-4 years. During that time, the district will be finishing the current IRP approved projects and the AIM GPS-Welling Phase project.
The Water Management System (Water Wizard) is working well. We anticipate having the crop report ready to submit to Alberta Agriculture by early September. To help the water supervisors use the program we have ordered them laptop/tablets that are a higher quality than the tablets they are currently using.
- IAI Update:
Several districts have project overages and need additional time to complete their AIM projects because of inflation and material supply constraints. IAI will be approaching the GOA and CIB with a request to increase funding for project overages and for a timeline extension.
UID has completed their AIM project and have repaid their CIB loan. As such, they have completed their need to be part of IAI and have now official exited IAI.
New Business
- Directors’ Items:
No director items were brought forward.
- June 6 – Inter-district Tour Report:
Jason attended the annual inter-district tour at the UID in June. The tour was well attended and UID did a great job. The tour next year will be hosted by LNID.
- IJC Townhall Report:
Rod and Jason attended the IJC Townhall in June. The meeting was really well attended by Irrigators. The message that water from St. Mary’s to Southern Alberta is crucial for the incredible success of agriculture in Southern Alberta was conveyed to the study board.
The study board also had the opportunity to tour the McCain’s plant and an irrigated farm in the SMRID. The Board learned a lot and appreciated hearing from Southern Alberta irrigators.
- Irrigation Council Visit Review:
The RID Board reviewed the visit from Irrigation Council on July 8th. The Board felt the meeting and discussion with Irrigation Council was very positive and went well. The RID Board expressed the appreciation for the interest Irrigation Council showed in RID and for their hard work on behalf or irrigation in Alberta.
- 2025 – RID’s 100th Anniversary Celebration:
This item was tabled to the fall for more discussion.
- Household Purposes Agreements (“HPA”):
The following HPA requestions have been received:
- Drianne and Dan Mehlen at NE/NW 32-6-21-W4.
- Christine and Darryl Blinn at NE/NW 32-6-21-W4
- Heath and Karla Michelson at Plan 2210677, Block 1, Lot 1
- Natalie and Walter Michel at SW/SE 4-7-21-W4
- Ryan and Lacie Iverson at Plan 9711687, Block 3, Lot 9
- Brad and Cassidy Anderson at Plan 1411120, Block 5, Lot 6
On motion made by Rod Wendorff and carried, the RID Board approves HPA for the above noted parcels.
- Permanent Irrigation Transfers:
The following permanent acre transfer requestions have been received:
- 10 acres from N1/2 NE 29-5-20-W4 to SE 34-5-20-W4
- 7 acres from S1/2 NE 29-5-20-W4 to SE 34-5-20-W4
On motion made by Rod Wendorff and carried, the RID Board approves the transfer of 10 irrigation acres from N1/2 of NE29-5-20-W4 to SE34-5-20-W4 and 7 irrigation acres from S1/2 of NE29-5-20-W4 to SE34-5-20-W4.
- Next Meeting Date
The next meeting is set for September 18, 2024.
Motion to adjourn – There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 am on motion by Craig Palmer.