New Alberta Environment and Parks Surface Water Allocation Directive
Release Date: May 30, 2019
On March 6, 2019, Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) released the Surface Water Allocation Directive. This directive provides guidance when allocating water from rivers, lakes, and wetlands at locations where a water management plan, framework, or other prescriptive guidance does not exist. It applies to new water licence applications and temporary diversion licences. It does not affect existing licences but may be applied to term licences when they are renewed.
Operators applying for a term licence are still expected to evaluate the environmental effects of granting the licence (using the guidelines given in the new directive) and submit their documentation with their application. Operators applying for temporary diversion licences are to follow current process and may choose not to submit any documentation on the environmental effects, but they should use the directive to evaluate water availability to avoid potential delays in the review process.
For further information regarding the new directive, visit the Alberta Environment and Parks website: https://open.alberta.ca/publications/9781460143339. Questions about the directive should be directed to AEP at AEP.WaterPolicy@gov.ab.ca.
Questions about how this impacts our review should be directed to our Customer Contact Centre at Inquiries@aer.ca. For application-related questions, please contact us at EPEA.WA.Applications@aer.ca.
