Analysis of Agricultural Water Supply Issues: National Summary

Final report

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
May 2003

Executive summary

The National Water Supply Expansion Program (NWSEP) is a four year $60 million Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) investment in secure water supplies for agriculture. The intent of the program is to improve the capacity of agricultural producers to deal with drought and other agriculturally related water supply constraints through the development and expansion of water supply systems on a cost-shared basis

Regional consultations were undertaken to identify the agricultural water supply issues and constraints throughout the country such that program options and priorities could be established. Information from these consultations is provided in five separate reports, each focusing on a specific region: British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces. This summary report provides an overview of the findings at national and provincial scales.

Water supply constraints to agricultural production were evident in all provinces except Newfoundland/Labrador; however, even in Newfoundland/Labrador, a lack of information on water supply needs for the various agriculture sectors was identified, which in itself could be considered a constraint. In total, twelve main constraints were identified in the five regions. The types of constraints vary across the country and are generally related to climate, poor information on groundwater resources, commodity group needs, or allocation rights. Constraints were most widespread in location and type in the Prairies and British Columbia. In the central and eastern provinces, constraints were primarily related to irrigation supplies.

In general, the reports identified four main priorities for agricultural water supply expansion:

• Improved knowledge of our surface water and groundwater resources, specifically in terms of the available supply and the demand placed upon them by all sectors.
• Encouragement of more efficient use of available water.
• Improved planning and communication among all parties responsible for aspects of water supply development and withdrawal
• Additional water supply and distribution infrastructure to support sustainability and growth of the agricultural sector.

Several initiatives were identified that would begin to address some of the constraints. These projects range from providing support for water supply infrastructure, to supporting development of information, or supporting initiation of local water management structures. A general consensus was found that the time frame of the NWSEP was too short, and that the available funds under the NWSEP would be insufficient to address the constraints in the long-term. Some feedback indicated that a long-term program with substantially more funding would be required to adequately address water supply issues. Nevertheless, the general recommendations from all provinces include funding and technical assistance for the two broad categories of:

• Strategic work, which includes: information gathering, technology transfer, feasibility assessment and planning; and,
• Infrastructure, which includes: new capital works or improvements to existing water supply infrastructure.

Other main recommendations include an allowance for flexibility in program delivery to accommodate regional differences, and the development of criteria to allow for prioritization of projects.