Winter Wednesday Webinar: Farm Water Storage
Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Farm water planner and KBFA general advisor Andrew Bennett led a discussion on how to increase water storage on farms and explore potential funding opportunities. Andrew provided an overview of the legal, physical, and economic factors to consider, followed by a Q & A.
Attendees learned about the differences between a dam and a dugout, the regulations that apply, and the various licenses required. Andrew explained how to apply for a new or modified license and what kinds of applications were most likely to get approved.
He also covered key considerations for siting water storage, the types of soil that hold water, and the best liner options if one was needed. For those unable to build a pond, alternative water storage solutions were discussed.
The session also addressed cost considerations, the financial viability of water storage in a farm’s business plan, and available funding opportunities.
As water shortages continue to increase, the discussion highlighted how storing more water on farms could be one of the most critical projects for the future.
WATCH RECORDING HERE!
This webinar is part of KBFA’s Winter Wednesday Webinar Series. Don’t miss out—explore the full lineup of events and register for other exciting webinars by visiting KBFA.ca/Events!
Resources
Irrigate Better! — 4 part webinar series (KBFA YouTube)
Farm Water Fix Series — 12 short videos (KBFA YouTube)
Farm Water Supply and Conservation Fact Sheets (BC Government)
BC Agri Weather – weather data including evapotranspiration, precipitation, wind, and other measurements relevant to agriculture from a network of weather stations across BC. Formerly these stations were accessed through FarmWest.
BC Agriculture Water Calculator – used to determine license amounts and get a rough estimate of water requirements
Farm Water Resources (Alberta Government)
Adaptive Farm Practices Project Reports (BC Climate Change Adaptation Program)
Farm Irrigation Fact Sheets and Case Studies (BC Climate Change Adaptation Program)
