The government of Alberta is giving almost $1.1 million to the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District, the provincial government says in a news release on Aug. 5.
“Irrigation infrastructure is critical to economic stability in southern Alberta. This grant will increase great-producing irrigated farmland by conserving water and increasing water efficiency through pipelines,” Devin Dreeshen, minister of agriculture and forestry, says in the news release.
The grant is part of Alberta’s $10-million Irrigation Rehabilitation Program, the release notes. The program is meant to help improve water infrastructure which provides water for irrigation and agricultural operations, municipal use, recreation, wildlife and habitat enhancement.
“This funding will help ensure our infrastructure remains strong and can keep up with demand now and in the future,” John Vandenberg, board chair of the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District, says in the release.
The Irrigation Rehabilitation Program provides districts with funding at a ratio of 75 per cent government to 25 per cent district.
This funding announcement comes following a $100,000 for a damn safety review for the Eastern Irrigation District and $2.6 million in grant funding to St. Mary River Irrigation District.
