Alberta faces significant challenges from a warming and drying climate, including reduced water availability, increased drought frequency, and unpredictable weather patterns. However, through innovative agricultural practices, community planning, and strategic water management, the province is developing robust adaptation strategies to build resilience. Below are key approaches Alberta can adopt to address these climate challenges.
Agricultural Innovations
Soil Moisture Conservation: Alberta farmers are already implementing techniques like conservation tillage, which has shown up to 25% better moisture retention compared to conventional methods by using crop residue as mulch to reduce evaporation. Strategic crop rotation and cover cropping, such as planting deep-rooted crops like alfalfa, improve water infiltration, while winter cover crops protect soil from moisture loss during spring thaws. Maintaining at least 30% ground cover year-round is recommended for optimal results 1.
Precision Irrigation and Monitoring: The adoption of precision irrigation systems has reduced water usage by up to 40% on some Alberta farms. Modern soil moisture monitoring tools, such as tension meters and time-domain reflectometry (TDR) sensors, allow farmers to make informed decisions about irrigation timing and volume, preventing both under- and over-watering 1.
Drought-Resistant Crops and Diversification: Planting drought-tolerant crop varieties tailored for Prairie conditions and diversifying crop and livestock systems enhance agricultural resilience. These practices help maintain productivity during dry spells and are supported by research and government initiatives 123.
Water Resource Management
Reducing Water Consumption in Energy Production: With fresh water resources expected to decrease, Alberta must focus on reducing water use in energy sectors like oilsands and electricity generation. Shifting to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, which require less water than coal-fired power plants (currently producing 60% of Alberta’s electricity), is a critical step. Additionally, implementing pricing for water used by the energy sector could encourage conservation and fund better monitoring of surface and groundwater resources 4.
Infrastructure Investments: Building water management infrastructure, such as reservoirs, can help store water during periods of abundance for use during droughts. This is particularly relevant for sectors like hydroelectricity, which face challenges from low water levels 3. Integrated water management practices in agriculture also support efficient use and storage of water resources 2.
Community and Policy Initiatives
Climate Resilience Planning: The Climate Resilience Capacity Building Program, active until December 2024, supported Alberta municipalities and Indigenous communities in assessing climate risks and developing adaptation plans. Such initiatives help local governments prepare for droughts, wildfires, flooding, and other extreme events by integrating climate risk into planning and decision-making processes 5.
Drought Response Plans and Early Warning Systems: Proactive planning through comprehensive drought response plans, like Alberta’s own, can coordinate water resource management across sectors. Improving early warning systems, such as the Canadian Drought Monitor, enables farmers and communities to make informed decisions during dry periods. Enhanced crop insurance and disaster relief programs further support agricultural producers during droughts 3.
Community Education and Collaboration: Initiatives like the Alberta Water Council’s “Building Resiliency to Multi-Year Drought in Alberta” guidebook and workshops empower communities to plan for and mitigate drought impacts. These efforts, combined with continued research and collaboration through organizations like the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative, strengthen local resilience to multi-year droughts, particularly in northern Alberta watersheds where winter droughts have been severe 67.
Nature-Based Solutions
Windbreaks and Shelterbelts: Planting native species like caragana or green ash as windbreaks reduces wind speeds by up to 50%, decreasing moisture loss through evaporation. These measures also support local biodiversity and are well-suited to Alberta’s climate 1.
Environmental Stewardship: Alberta’s agricultural sector is embracing nature-based solutions to lower carbon footprints and enhance resilience. Practices like conservation cropping and sustainable land management not only adapt to climate change but also contribute to long-term environmental health 2.
By combining these strategies—innovative farming practices, efficient water management, proactive policy frameworks, and nature-based solutions—Alberta can adapt to a warming and drying climate. These efforts, grounded in local research and real-world success stories, position the province to mitigate risks and ensure a sustainable future for its communities and industries.
- https://organicagcentre.ca/sustainable-food-systems/alberta-farmers-are-beating-climate-change-heres-their-secret/
- https://calgaryindustry.ca/albertas-agriculture-sector-in-a-changing-climate/
- https://climateinstitute.ca/news/fact-sheet-climate-change-and-drought/
- https://www.pembina.org/media-release/climate-change-expected-decrease-albertas-water-supply
- https://mccac.ca/programs/climate-resilience-capacity-building-program/
- https://athabascawatershed.ca/2024/03/confronting-climate-challenges-northern-albertas-winter-drought-and-building-strategies-for-long-term-resilience/
- https://elc.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Climate-Change-Guide-Part-2-Adaptation-FINAL-04.03.2019.pdf
- https://www.alberta.ca/climate-smart-agriculture-adaptation
- https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/cl9706/$FILE/CSA-Adaptation-July-4-2018.pdf
- https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/89a69583-a11b-4e31-a857-b311ab6563cc/resource/17ce2d24-ba7b-466c-acd9-33a2cf6beb69/download/aep-alberta-climate-report-arc.pdf
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