News Release: MD of Taber breaks promise of protection, votes for irrigation on native grassland

September 26, 2025

This week, the Municipal District (MD) of Taber council voted in favour of proceeding with the planned irrigation project. This project would convert 6 sections of municipal public native grasslands into irrigated cropland, despite historic promises to not convert the grassland under consideration.

Alberta Wilderness Association, along with conservation organizations, joined the Municipal District of Taber Grazing Lessees, the Vauxhall Stock Grazing Association in opposing this decision. Alberta’s recent approach to develop and expand irrigation in southern Alberta threatens an already heavily devastated grassland ecosystem, as well as the ranchers who rely on this land.

The decision narrowly passed by a vote of 4 to 3. Reasons cited by those opposed include the speed of the process, and a lack of compliance with the protection of native grassland as stipulated in the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan.

Other options are being explored, including legal implications. Should the project proceed, it would be a permanent loss of native grasslands, affecting rancher livelihoods.

Background

In the 2000s, after receiving several acres of tax recovery lands back from the Government of Alberta, the MD of Taber made assurances that the native grasslands on these lands would not be broken. This was codified in the grazing lease agreement prohibiting conversion, and in the “Prairie Conservation Bylaw.”

In 2020, the Government of Alberta announced a plan to $815 million in irrigation, adding another $118 million in 2021. This project would expand irrigated agriculture by an estimated 230,000 acres of land. Initially, promises were made that irrigation expansion would not include sections of native grassland, although the expansion of reservoirs is expected to flood native habitats.

In August, AWA learned of an investigation to determine the feasibility of irrigating 6 sections (approximately 15 square kilometres) of native grassland. We joined Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society (ACTWS), Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS – Southern Alberta), Nature Alberta, and Southern Alberta Group for the Environment (SAGE) to oppose this decision, which violates historic promises to maintain the grassland. Letters were written expressing our concerns to Reeve Miyanaga (MD of Taber), the Bow River Irrigation District and Premier Smith.

On September 23, the council of MD of Taber met to discuss the “Scope Reservoir Project Agreement,” an agreement with the Bow River Irrigation District (BRID) that would allow native grassland to be irrigated. AWA and SAGE presented letters at the meeting expressing concerns with the loss of native grassland, and violation of the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. We support protecting these native grasslands and the continued stewardship of grazing leaseholders in maintaining grassland health.

Temperate native grasslands are considered the most endangered ecosystem worldwide. These grasslands provide many benefits. In addition to habitat for species at risk and services such as carbon sequestration and flood mitigation, native grasslands are important for ranching and agriculture. Ranching and livestock production is a sustainable use of this land. The lands under consideration for irrigation have been identified as environmentally significant.

Alberta has already lost an estimated three-quarters of this ecosystem, and development continues to threaten the remaining sections. In acknowledgement of their importance and vulnerability, the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP) established sustaining intact grassland habitat, biodiversity and ecosystem function and objectives. Conversion to irrigated cropland would result in a permanent loss of this precious landscape.