Province says it’s righting historic wrong for Alberta ranchers

Oct 14, 2026 | 9:42 AM

The Government of Alberta is reopening a registration program for eligible ranchers to have their long-standing water rights recognized.

The province notes in a news release that the Traditional Agricultural Registration Program closed in 2001.

That meant grazing leaseholders on Crown land could no longer apply directly because they did not own the land. Instead, submissions were put in on their behalf.

Subsequent reviews have identified errors and omissions in some historic records that may have left eligible agricultural water use unrecognized.

The change follows a review undertaken with the Alberta Grazing Leaseholders Association.

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“Ranchers should not lose recognition of long-standing water rights because of mistakes or gaps in government records from more than two decades ago,” Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, says.

“We are righting that historic wrong and giving eligible ranchers a fair opportunity to correct the record and have the water use they have relied on for generations properly recognized.”

The reopened program applies to eligible agricultural water use that occurred before Jan. 1, 1999.

They add that eligible uses include water for raising animals or applying pesticides on a farm unit, up to 6,250 cubic metres per year.

“Alberta Grazing Leaseholders Association appreciates the government recognizing this long-standing issue and giving eligible ranchers a fair opportunity to have their historical water use reviewed,” adds Darwayne Claypool, chairman, Alberta Grazing Leaseholders Association.

The province estimates about 6,800 registrations on unpatented Crown land may be eligible for review through the reopened program.

Applications will be accepted until Dec. 31, 2028.

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by Josh Hall/rednewsNOW

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Province says it’s righting historic wrong for Alberta ranchers

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