Details on water blockage for Lethbridge farmers revealed, 2 weeks later

After days without any specifics, details are now coming to light about what led to the water being shut off, and why it’s being allowed to flow once again.

The details of a now resolved dispute between the Piikani Nation and Alberta government are coming to light, two weeks after water stopped flowing into the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District (LNID).

The blockage sent farmers across southern Alberta into a panic as they tried to grapple with the ramifications of what that could mean for their livestock and crops. But possibly the most frustrating part for these farmers was the fact that they had no idea what the issue was, or why it was happening.

“Is it an issue on the reserve or is it a government issue? We don’t know. So when is it going to be resolved? That’s the scary thing; we don’t know… So where do we go and what do we do?” Troy Bischler, a cattle producer, said to Global News on Tuesday.

When the issue came to a resolution late Tuesday evening after members of the Piikani Nation and the provincial government conducted in-person meetings, farmers were still in the dark as to what the problem really was.

Now, a Piikani council member is sharing some insight on the matter.

“Farmers and other people that need access to water, we do understand that aspect and we are very conscious, and at times we get very protective of our river — it’s sacred to us,” Coun. Riel Houle said.

The province is planning to build a new weir for the district, and Houle said the nation has been asking to be a part of the project since 2017.

The current weir diverts water downstream from the Old Man River on the Piikani Nation.