Abstract
In Alberta the passage of the Water Act of 1999 and the Irrigation Districts Act of 2000 enabled water license holders to transfer water rights on a permanent basis and water allocations on a temporary basis, establishing the foundation for water markets. This study explores water market activity in southern Alberta, focusing on the temporary transfer of water allocations by the region's dominant water consumer: irrigators. Irrigators in the region's largest irrigation district were surveyed. It was found that the characteristics of the water market conform to characteristics of water markets elsewhere. Most notable is that the market provided flexibility to producers to manage water during times of water supply constraints and in so doing, enhanced water productivity and efficiency. However, water market activity in southern Alberta is very limited and will likely remain so under the current water management regime.
Published Version
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