The Globe and Mail - Globe Climate: Alberta’s drought is testing the limits of its water-licensing regime
“The West periodically suffers drought – as Alberta is experiencing now. When that happens, enforcing FITFIR could lead to perverse outcomes. Crops might be watered, for instance, while the homes of the people harvesting them do without.”
Click here to read the Globe Climate Newsletter
Published by the Globe and Mail, this week’s ‘Globe Climate’ newsletter by investigative reporter and data journalist Matthew McClearn, in collaboration with energy reporter Emma Graney from The Globe and Mail, explores Alberta's current drought crisis and the intricacies of water allocation in western North America, and brings together a wide range of other news highlighting pressing climate issues across Canada and the world.
Known as "first-in-time, first-in-right" (FITFIR) or "prior appropriation," water allocation operates on a priority basis dictated by the age of water licenses. Senior license holders are entitled to their full allotment before junior holders receive any water.
However, during droughts like the one currently affecting Alberta, enforcing FITFIR can lead to problematic outcomes. Major users may receive water while others, like towns and First Nations reserves, face severe shortages.
Interestingly, during past droughts in Alberta, senior water licence holders have voluntarily reduced their allocations to ensure sufficient water for others. Alberta's government is now facilitating similar negotiations among large water users to address the impending water shortages.
Rebecca Schulz, Alberta's Environment Minister, acknowledges the delicate balance between water allocation and public welfare. While emphasizing ongoing negotiations, she underscores the priority of human and animal health and safety in water access decisions.
This collaborative approach highlights the complexities of water management during droughts and the necessity for flexible solutions to ensure equitable access to water resources.
As the Canada1Water project nears the conclusion of its initial research and development phase, it emerges as a critical national initiative focused on assessing the effects of climate change on water resources. By equipping decision-makers, policy analysts, and community planners with user-friendly tools, projects like Canada1Water play an essential role in tackling the challenges of ensuring a sustainable water supply in the face of climate variability and change.