Restrictions to Temporary Diversion Licences

Aug 14, 2015

Due to dry weather and low flow conditions in rivers across Alberta, the AER has taken steps to restrict water withdrawals under current temporary diversion licences (TDLs). The AER is also encouraging oil and gas operators to voluntarily reduce their consumption in areas with no mandatory restrictions but with streamflows lower than normal.

On July 24, 2015, Alberta Environment and Parks issued a low flow advisory for the Upper Athabasca River basin. The advisory notified water users in the Upper Athabasca Region that current temporary TDLs are suspended and no new applications will be accepted. The AER has applied this restriction to oil and gas operators in the region.

In addition, the following restrictions on TDLs for watercourses (e.g., rivers, creeks) have been put in place for other river basins in Alberta:

• Battle River basin – no TDL applications are being accepted.
• South Saskatchewan River basin – no TDL applications are being accepted; in some sub-basins all TDLs have been suspended.
• Milk River basin – no TDL applications are being accepted.
• Peace River basin – no TDL applications are being accepted; in some sub-basins all TDLs have been suspended.
• North Saskatchewan River basin – no TDL applications are being accepted; in some sub-basins TDLs are in the process of being suspended.

The AER is working with Alberta Environment and Parks to monitor water flow in Alberta’s rivers and will lift the restrictions when river flows return to acceptable levels.

A map of current water restrictions in Alberta is available on the Alberta Environment and Parks website.

original signed by

Kirk Bailey
Executive Vice President
Operations

NT3