Special Areas drought situation now

As of mid-July 2025, the Special Areas region of Alberta continues to face very challenging drought conditions. Here is the current situation based on the latest available information:

• : Province-wide, there are currently 40 water shortage advisories, and multiple areas across southern and eastern Alberta—including Special Areas—are impacted1.

• : Special Areas have been categorized in early 2024 as facing exceptional drought (D4), the most severe level on the drought scale4. While recent months have seen some improvement in soil moisture due to May precipitation, longer-term deficits remain from previous years of drought, and conditions continue to be precarious.

• : The drought has led to extremely low surface water levels in many lakes, streams, and dugouts, as well as diminished groundwater reserves4. Agricultural reports note that soil moisture remains critically low; for example, southern Alberta (which includes the Special Areas) reported soil moisture rated at 17.6% poor and 37% fair as of July 85.

• Agricultural Disaster Declarations: It is notable that, as recently as July 2023, Special Areas No. 2, 3, and 4 were under an official agricultural disaster declaration due to prolonged drought6. There is no direct confirmation in the search results that this has been re-issued in 2025, but the region remains one of the hardest hit, and local governments across southern Alberta continue to declare agricultural disasters as conditions worsen5.

• : After a dry start to 2025, some rain in May slightly improved soil moisture, but this did not fully reverse the deficits4. June, which is typically a wet month vital for crops, was “abnormally dry,” and it remains uncertain if precipitation in July and August will be sufficient to protect yields78.

• : The drought extends across much of southeast Alberta and into the prairies, with many farms dealing with stressed crops, water hauling for livestock, and below-normal yields expected even if some late moisture arrives35.

In summary, Special Areas remain deeply affected by drought, with some signs of temporary relief, but the region’s agricultural, ecological, and water resources continue to sustain significant, ongoing pressure. The situation remains dynamic and further updates from provincial authorities and local governments are anticipated as the critical summer period progresses145.

1. https://www.alberta.ca/drought-current-conditions
2. https://www.calgary.ca/water/drought.html
3. https://calgaryherald.com/news/drought-conditions-worsen-southeast-alberta-farmers-optimistic
4. https://www.battleriverwatershed.ca/drought-update/
5. https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/two-municipalities-in-opposite-corners-of-southern-alberta-declare-agricultural-disaster
6. https://specialareas.ab.ca/2023/07/special-areas-declares-agricultural-disaster/
7. https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2025/07/10/significant-concern-for-drought-conditions-in-southern-alberta/
8. https://chatnewstoday.ca/2025/07/10/significant-concern-for-drought-conditions-in-southern-alberta/
9. https://www.plantmaps.com/en/ca/province/alberta/current-drought-conditions
10. https://specialareas.ab.ca/2023/07/drought-resources/