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Vol. 94 No. 8
February 28, 2024 $1.25
Serving our communities since 1930
David Thomas photo
Crowsnest River runs dry DAVID THOMAS Pass Herald Contributor
Municipal District of Pincher Creek mines river bottom for last dregs The Crowsnest River, an essential source for the South Saskatchewan River system, has run dry,
Crowsnest Headwaters advised today. The famous trout river, whose headwaters originate on the Alberta side of the continental divide, normally contributes significantly to the Oldman Reservoir near Pincher Creek, AB. Today, the river has run dry upstream of the village of Cowley, well before reaching the remaining water in the impoundment. With its usual intake pipe now stranded, the Municipal District of Pincher Creek has dug a pit in the river bottom to extract subsurface water by truck and emergency pipes. “This is more than a wake-up call,” said Crowsnest Headwaters communications coordinator David Thomas. “It’s a gut-punch for residents, ranchers, First Nations communities, and everyone who depends on water from the Oldman River system.” “If southern Alberta’s drought persists much longer,
the reservoir will become a dead pool, creating a water crisis for more of the towns, cities, farms, and businesses that depend on the Oldman River downstream of the reservoir.” Fort Macleod and Lethbridge are two municipalities that depend on the dwindling Oldman River for domestic and industrial water, as well as the Pikanii and Kainai First Nations reserves. The trickle of water still entering the reservoir at the mouth of the Oldman River is not being measured by the Canadian government’s seasonal monitoring station. (There is no federal monitoring station for the mouth of the Crowsnest River.) Meanwhile, the dam operator continues to draw down the reservoir’s remaining inventory to meet the needs of downstream users. The reservoir is at 30 percent capacity. Cont’d on page 3