Photo: The County of Stettler’s Agriculture Service Board (ASB) heard a dam project could boost the agriculture industry if it’s built. The report was made at the Aug. 20 ASB meeting. The update on the proposed Ardley Dam project was made by Rudy Friesen, executive director of the Red Deer River Municipal Users Group (pictured centre). Rural Alberta Report/Screenshot

The County of Stettler’s Agriculture Service Board (ASB) heard a dam project could boost the agriculture industry and the rural Alberta’s economy in general if it’s built. The report was made at the Aug. 20 ASB meeting.

The ASB is comprised of members of county council and chaired by Coun. Les Stulberg.

Board members heard an update on the proposed Ardley Dam project by Rudy Friesen, executive director of the Red Deer River Municipal Users Group; Friesen introduced himself by noting he is also Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Brazeau County.

Friesen, who has been executive director of the users group for five years, noted the group was founded in 2006 and really gained steam when the massive CrossIron Mills outlet mall was being developed near Calgary. It was noted that during the mall’s development an inter-basin transfer of water from the Red Deer River watershed was proposed for the mall’s benefit.

“...Which raised some concerns among several municipalities along the Red Deer River, and rightly so,” said Friesen. Readers should note that, generally speaking, due to agreements between the Alberta government and other provinces a certain amount of water must remain in rivers when they enter other provinces, and allowing a large user to take water could have a massive effect on what’s left for those downstream.

Friesen stated there’s been talk for decades about an Ardley Dam, dating back as far as the 1950’s.

He noted that when the Red Deer River basin storage ability, including things like dams and reservoirs, is compared to other basins like the Bow and the Oldman, the Red Deer comes off short. He said some of this is population-linked.

A recent study was conducted to examine how the Red Deer River could handle unpredictable water events like flood and drought, and the results weren’t positive. The study showed major flood or drought events would expose the Red Deer River’s inability to manage such challenges.

Economically-speaking, Friesen noted increasing water storage on the Red Deer River would have obvious benefits, adding that rural Alberta revolves around water. He said the benefits to agriculture would be obvious, and making more water available to agriculture and other industries could allow communities to blossom, effectively growing the province.

Showing maps of where the Ardley Dam is proposed for development (appropriately enough near the Hamlet of Ardley), Friesen stated the valley in question wouldn’t be much disrupted by the project and little farmland would be affected.

He noted the eastern Alberta irrigation project is still ongoing, and some research has suggested that if such an irrigation project was developed towards the Saskatchewan border it would need a very large amount of water from the Red Deer River. However, Friesen pointed out studies have also shown that if the Ardley Dam was developed, it may accommodate eastern irrigation demands from current flow rates.

During discussion it was noted such a dam could also offer considerable recreational opportunities along with possible power generation.

It was noted at the meeting the Government of Alberta began the current Ardley Dam project in 2024 and it’s currently in the feasibility stage. Friesen stated some people have suggested the dam is on the “fast track,” but those people should remember the dam has been talked about for roughly 70 years and there is a lot of information on file about it.

As the board discussed Ardley Dam’s cost, Friesen stated estimates place the dam’s price tag up to $1.5 billion.