In the dry areas of the prairies, there is not enough rain to grow the crops that people need and want. Irrigation is any man-made way of putting water onto land to grow food and other plant products. It helps farmers grow more and different kinds of crops and the feed needed for livestock.
Irrigation takes a lot of water.
Also, the systems used to move the water from the rivers to the farms bring much needed water to many towns and villages for their homes and industries. These water delivery and crop-watering systems need to be used carefully to protect the environment. Funding was provided in part by the Canada-Alberta Soil Conservation Initiative.