The water council is just *gone*
Good morning from the coulees — the wind's up, the sky's wide, and Lethbridge has something to say.
Look, you hear about cuts to things all the time, especially when the wind really starts to blow from Edmonton. But when I read that the Alberta Water Council is shutting its doors after more than two decades, citing funding cuts, it just hit different. This isn't some abstract government office up in Calgary or the big city. Water, especially out here, is life. It’s what makes those fields bloom all the way from Taber to Fort Macleod, running through those long irrigation canals that carve up the prairie. Without that water, this whole corner of the province looks a lot different.
### Why This Matters for Us
For twenty-odd years, this council has been the steady hand on the tiller when it comes to water policy, bringing together folks from every corner – farmers, industry, Indigenous communities, environmental groups – to figure out how to best manage our most precious resource. You remember the last few dry summers we’ve had, with the prairie dust devils kicking up near the Whoop-Up Drive. Those weren't anomalies. We’re in a dry country, sitting right on the edge of the *Siksikaitsitapi* (Blackfoot Confederacy) territory, where water has always been a sacred trust.
* The council was formed to provide independent, non-partisan advice to the provincial government. * They’ve been key in developing strategies for drought management and ensuring water quality across the province. * Losing this independent voice means one less group looking out for the long-term health of our rivers and reservoirs, like the Oldman River that runs right through our valley, under the High Level Bridge.
It feels like we're losing a bit of our collective memory and foresight when it comes to something so fundamental. This isn't just about some report gathering dust; it's about the very ground we stand on, and the water that flows through it. It's about what the next dry year will bring, and who's going to be looking out for us when the taps feel a little less full.
You really ought to hear what the morning show has to say about this – the crew always has a sharp take. Catch it live at mornings.live.