Municipal District of Pincher Creek declared state of agricultural disaster

The Municipal District (MD) of Pincher Creek declared a state of agricultural disaster in June 2025 due to ongoing drought conditions that have significantly impacted local agriculture124108. The declaration was made by council on June 24, 2025, specifically citing drought as the primary cause10.

Key reasons for the declaration:

• : Water sources—including dugouts and creeks—dried up early, leading to producers hauling water for cattle1.

• : The Oldman Reservoir, a main municipal intake, was at 58% of capacity in mid-July and expected to be unusable by early August due to further decline, prompting moderate water restrictions1.

• : Although there was some rain, it was not enough; the ground was so dry that it quickly absorbed all moisture, offering little reprieve to crops and pastures14.

:

• The MD of Pincher Creek previously declared an agricultural disaster two years ago during another severe drought, spending $1.5 million on water hauling. Since then, new wells have been drilled, but water shortages remain a major concern1.

• This declaration raises awareness of the severity of conditions and informs provincial and federal governments, potentially enabling support measures and allowing local producers to apply for aid programs should they become available125.

• Other regions in Alberta and neighboring Saskatchewan have made similar declarations amid widespread drought across the prairies1346.

As of July 2025, the drought remains a persistent challenge in southern Alberta, with producers facing water shortages and poor crop outlooks, despite intermittent rainfall18. The declaration by the MD of Pincher Creek is a strategic step to seek broader support and draw attention to local agricultural needs during this difficult season.

1. https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/two-municipalities-in-opposite-corners-of-southern-alberta-declare-agricultural-disaster
2. https://mdpinchercreek.ab.ca/content.php?p=news_events
3. https://claresholmlocalpress.ca/2025/cypress-drought-prompts-local-agricultural-state-of-disaster/
4. https://www.mygrandeprairienow.com/148036/news/municipal-news/md-of-greenview/greenview-joins-pincher-creek-in-declaring-agricultural-disaster/
5. https://rmalberta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/RMA-Guide-for-Declaring-Municipal-Agriculture-Disasters-Version-2.0.pdf
6. https://chatnewstoday.ca/2025/07/15/cypress-county-declares-agricultural-state-of-disaster/
7. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-agricultural-disaster-danielle-smith-drought-1.6936774
8. https://shootinthebreeze.ca/tag/md-of-pincher-creek-drought/
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbXIQmcz4Eo
10. https://mdpinchercreek.ab.ca/docs/files/councilmeetings/2025/2025-06-24%20Council%20Package.pdf