EID recognizes this important safety initiative and encourages rural communities, water users, farmers, and ranchers to prioritize farm health and safety every day. Please consider this resource to assist you in keeping our agricultural communities SAFE.
Health Safety on Alberta Farms Ranches BrochureThe earliest date for Water Delivery is May 1st with the entire system becoming fully operational by May 8th.
Irrigators should contact their Water Operator if they want water early, so that the applicable systems can be prioritized.
Where maintenance issues arise, there could be delays in the affected areas.
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 InformationThe Eastern Irrigation District has confirmed the presence of Pale Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) along the north shore of Lake Newell Reservoir. This prohibited noxious invasive plant can displace native vegetation, disrupt wetland ecosystems, and is toxic to livestock if consumed. We are working with the County of Newell to assess the affected areas and plan management actions for spring. If you suspect this plant elsewhere within the District, please take a photo and report the location through the Newell Connect app. Community awareness and reporting are vital in helping protect our irrigation system and natural areas.
For more information, visit https://countyofnewell.ab.ca/weed-control
Wire 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.If 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
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):