The Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) is urging the province to assess the impact of a massive irrigation project announced earlier this month.
鈥淎ny project of this magnitude must be considered on the basis of environmental consequences,鈥� SES vice president Bob Halliday told reporters on Wednesday.
The 10-year irrigation project aims to harness the waters at Lake Diefenbaker to irrigate up to 500,000 acres. When completed, that would roughly double the irrigable land in the province, boosting higher value yields for farmers in west-central and southern Saskatchewan.
The province estimated this would increase the provincial gross domestic product (GDP) by $40 billion to $80 billion over the next 50 years.
Before it goes ahead, Halliday wants an environmental-impact statement, and for any potential federal funding to be tied to that statement being prepared.
There could be several associated environmental issues with the project, but at this point, all of those concerns are 鈥溾�榗oulds (and) not 鈥榳ills,鈥� 鈥� Halliday said.
鈥淯ntil we know the operating plans for the reservoir under this irrigation regime, we really don鈥檛 know what the consequences will be.鈥�
Among his concerns is the potential impact on hydroelectric power generation along Coteau Creek and Hudson Bay. He said the project could also reduce summer flows for irrigators drawing water from the 麻豆视频 Saskatchewan River.
Those reduced flows could affect tourism and fisheries operating downstream, he added.
Wetland loss in the areas west and north of Lake Diefenbaker and in the upper Qu鈥橝ppelle River basin are also possible, and agricultural land could be lost to canal construction, Halliday said.
He questioned the suitability of the lands set for irrigation. That鈥檚 because soil profiles and groundwater levels could lead to saline breakouts in the soil, he said.
An environment assessment should investigate these concerns, Halliday said.
Water Security Agency spokesperson Patrick Boyle said the project is in its infancy, and all steps 鈥� including environmental assessments 鈥� will be followed. As more preliminary information comes in, consultations and meetings could take place, Boyle said.
The project is about 50 years old, and the suggestion that 鈥渨e鈥檙e not sure or don鈥檛 understand the system here is not true and not accurate at all,鈥� he added.
鈥淲e鈥檙e certainly prepared to move forward and make sure all the right assessments are being done.鈥�
First Nation leaders like Cumberland House Chief Rene Chaboyer have expressed concern over a lack of consultation in the project. Halliday said there are still several unknowns surrounding the project that need answers beyond the details in its initial announcement.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really reacting to a press release,鈥� Halliday said. 鈥淭he province really hasn鈥檛 made any specific description of what they envisage.鈥�
