Subsoil moisture deficiency is a critical factor exacerbating drought conditions around Red Deer, Alberta, with significant impacts on agriculture, water bodies, and overall ecosystem health.
- Agricultural Impact: The lack of subsoil moisture has led to drought stress in crops, resulting in reduced plant height, smaller heads, and significant yield losses in the region surrounding Red Deer. For example, grainfields east of Red Deer showed poor stalk lengths (3-4 feet) compared to healthier crops (6 feet) in areas with better moisture like Olds. Canola and corn crops have been notably affected, with many fields left unharvested due to moisture challenges[1][2].
- Water Bodies and Lakes: Subsoil moisture deficiency contributes to declining water levels in lakes and sloughs near Red Deer, such as Gull Lake and a lake near the Village of Alix. Residents and stakeholders are concerned about receding shorelines and are exploring options to replenish lake water, including diverting water from nearby rivers or aquifers[1].
- Soil Moisture Deficits: Between 2020 and 2023, the Red Deer area lost approximately 400 millimeters of moisture, representing a severe deficit that is rare on a 50-year scale. This long-term moisture loss has depleted soil moisture reserves, affecting the water available to plants and groundwater recharge. While some improvement in soil moisture reserves was noted in spring 2025, levels remain moderately low to low, indicating ongoing vulnerability[2][3].
- Drought Persistence and Recovery: The dry season in Alberta typically runs from October to March. The lack of replenishing wet years since 2016 has meant that soil moisture, especially in the subsoil, remains low. This deficiency affects not only crop development but also water supplies and deeper soil moisture, which take longer to recover than surface moisture[2][4].
- Groundwater and Aquifer Considerations: The Paskapoo Aquifer underlies parts of the Red Deer area and is sometimes considered for water supplementation to lakes affected by low water levels. However, groundwater yields vary widely, and the region generally has limited groundwater resources, which constrains the ability to offset surface water deficits caused by subsoil moisture shortage[1][5][6].
In summary, subsoil moisture deficiency around Red Deer is a key driver of drought impacts, limiting crop growth, reducing water levels in lakes and wetlands, and stressing water supplies. This deficiency stems from prolonged precipitation shortfalls and is compounded by limited groundwater availability, making drought management and water conservation critical for the region[1][2][3][6].
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- https://rdrwa.ca/2024/09/17/informal-survey-of-conditions-around-red-deer/
- https://grainswest.com/2025/01/soil-situation-varies/
- https://www.saddlehills.ab.ca/news/posts/moisture-update-may-21-2025/
- https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/central-alberta-experienced-moderate-to-extreme-drought-conditions-in-may-6827256
- https://ags.aer.ca/publications/all-publications/esr-1971-01
- https://rdrwa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/O2_RDRWA_BT3_GW_SW_20130913.pdf
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