The Eastern Irrigation District’s water delivery system will be shut down for all irrigation, including farmyards and acreages on October 8th, 2026
Please ensure all your irrigation needs and winter storage requirements are met before this date.
The Board is pleased to announce that Gary Krushell has accepted the position of General Manager and will commence work for the District on September 1, 2026.
Gary brings more than 20 years of operations management experience in the oil and gas industry. Having grown up on a mixed farm, he has an appreciation for agriculture and is passionate about supporting the industry. His combination of leadership experience, operational expertise, and agricultural background will be a valuable asset to the EID team.
Pictured left to right: Tracy Hemsing, EID Board of Directors Chairman, and Gerald Trembecki, Silver Sage Agricultural Society President.
The Eastern Irrigation District (EID) is pleased to announce the donation of approximately 107 acres of land to the Silver Sage Agricultural Society in support of future community and agricultural development initiatives.
Valued at approximately $1.1 million, the property was sold to the Society for $1. The donation represents a significant investment by the EID into the future of the region and the continued growth of community-focused recreational and agricultural opportunities.
The Silver Sage Agricultural Society’s conceptual and business plans highlight the addition of a campground, a multipurpose event center, landscaping, and upgrades to the existing arena structure.
The EID has a long-standing history of supporting multi-use initiatives throughout the District that balance agriculture, recreation, environmental stewardship, and community development.
The EID has seen successful results in implementing a scheduled chemical treatment program for canal reaches prone to aquatic weed issues. Following is the 2026 schedule, subject to weather conditions, for canals in this program:
(Special Use Approval Registration Number 10572-05-01):
Following the confirmed presence of Pale Yellow Iris along the north shore of Lake Newell Reservoir, in partnership with County of Newell, we will begin targeted herbicide treatments in late May, continuing periodically through the summer. All required approvals are in place. Please avoid treated areas and follow posted signage while crews are working.. If you spot this plant elsewhere, please report it with a photo using the Newell Connect app.
For more information, visit https://countyofnewell.ab.ca/weed-controlIf you currently obtain water from the EID through a Rural Water Use – Country Residential Agreement and would like to irrigate pasture outside the identified and maintained yard area for personal use, such as for a horse pasture, you must apply for a separate agreement to do so. The following requirements must be met:
If you require further information on what kind of raw water use is permissible under your agreement or additional information regarding the Pasture Irrigation Agreement, please contact Staci Connauton – Land Administrator, 403-363-1376, staci.connauton@eid.ca
Click the link below to view Snow Pack Information. After the page loads, select "Snow Pillow" in the layers panel in the upper right corner of the map. To view the Snow Pillow for the sites that supply water to the Bow River, search for one of the following sites using "By Station" (search icon is in the uppel left corner of the map):
After searching for the site, click on the snow pillow marker and a circular menu will pop up. Click the Yearly Graph button, (usually second from the bottom) to view the current snow pillow for year to date.
Click here to view the Alberta Snow Pack and River InformationWire theft from irrigation pivots is on the rise in rural areas. Thieves target copper wiring, causing thousands of dollars in damage and downtime.
Click HERE for more information.Environmental Impact Assessment Report and associated applications pertaining to the proposed Snake Lake Reservoir Expansion Project. Snake Lake Reservoir is an off-stream irrigation storage facility originally constructed from 1995 to 1997. The existing reservoir is located in the County of Newell within Townships 19 and 20, Ranges 16 and 17, W4M. The Snake Lake Reservoir Expansion Project (the Project) would increase the reservoir area by 780 ha to a total area of 1,100 ha and increase water capacity by 68 million m3 to 86 million m3. The Project includes the construction of 9 km of earthen banks up to 20 m in height, and the removal of all or a portion of the East Dam to connect the existing reservoir with the expanded reservoir. The Project is planned to provide additional water security for irrigation agriculture downstream of the reservoir. For more information on the environmental assessment process visit ea.alberta.ca.
Click HERE to view the Documents.