Alberta government updates Drought Response Plan
The Government of Alberta has released an updated Drought Response Plan that classifies drought stages by river basin.
While an initial Drought Response Plan was released in May of 2024, officials say varied amounts of rain across the province have made it clear that a more targeted and diverse plan was needed.
Alberta’s Drought Response Plan is described as a multi-stage roadmap, covering everything from conservation plans and water-sharing agreements to declaring an emergency and prioritizing water for human health and safety. Officials say the plan is intended to help the government, irrigators, communities, businesses and others respond quickly and effectively to a wide range of drought conditions.
Officials say the updated plan better reflects the conditions in each region by assigning each region a ranking from Stage 0 (no drought conditions) to Stage 4 (significant drought conditions in multiple water management areas).