RETURN OF THE FEDS, PART I: THE ST. MARY DAM

Abstract

Federal government involvement in Alberta water management has gone through four distinct phases since the 1870s. The purpose in this paper is to examine the events leading up to the federal government’s decision to become involved in the St. Mary-Milk River Development in 1946. This decision marked the end of a period of federal withdrawal from water management. Except for the activities of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, the federal government played a minor role between 1930 and 1946. Becoming involved in a major water development project represented a significant shift in federal policy. Although a threat from the United States regarding St. Mary River flow is the official explanation, the paper examines other important (and more likely) reasons.