Friday, October 16, 2026
For generations, Alberta’s ranchers have relied on water sources on public land to raise livestock and support their operations. Now, Alberta’s government is giving eligible ranchers a new opportunity to have long-standing agricultural water use properly recognized.
When Alberta’s Traditional Agricultural Registration program closed in 2001, grazing leaseholders on Crown land could not apply directly because they did not own the land. Registrations were submitted on their behalf, and subsequent reviews have identified errors and omissions in some historic records that may have left eligible agricultural water use unrecognized.
The change follows a review undertaken with the Alberta Grazing Leaseholders Association after concerns were raised about inaccuracies in historic registrations on grazing leases. That work confirmed examples of errors and omissions that could affect ranchers’ access to water sources that otherwise may have qualified for registration.
“Ranchers should not lose recognition of long-standing water rights because of mistakes or gaps in government records from more than two decades ago. We are righting that historic wrong and giving eligible ranchers a fair opportunity to correct the record and have the water use they have relied on for generations properly recognized,” said Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas.
Alberta is reopening the registration process for eligible historical agricultural water use on unpatented Crown land. This will give ranchers an opportunity to correct the record, have eligible long-standing water use reviewed and receive the recognition and priority associated with that historical use.
The reopened program applies to eligible agricultural water use that occurred before Jan. 1, 1999. Applications will be reviewed using available historical information, including aerial imagery and water well drilling records where appropriate.
About 6,800 registrations on unpatented Crown land may be eligible for review through the reopened program.
“Alberta Grazing Leaseholders Association appreciates the government recognizing this long-standing issue and giving eligible ranchers a fair opportunity to have their historical water use reviewed,” said Darwayne Claypool, chairman, Alberta Grazing Leaseholders Association.
Featured image: (Government of Alberta)
