Wind Walk denied water license

Foothills: Alberta Environment turns down groundwater application

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The contentious Wind Walk development is facing a major hurdle after Alberta Environment refused an application for a groundwater well for the development.

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Wind Walk’s developers are facing a major roadblock after a provincial body ruled earlier this month against their plan to use a groundwater well for the development south of Okotoks.

Alberta Environment and Water denied an application for a ground-water well to serve the first phase of the community because officials said the developer’s application didn’t prove there would be no connection to the Sheep River aquifer.

Seth Atkins, director for Holmes Communities, said they needed time to review the decision after receiving it Feb. 17 and added they’ll likely appeal the decision.

He said they have studied the groundwater aquifer and he maintained there would be no impact on the river and Okotoks’ water supply.

“Our position is all along we’ve provided sufficient scientific basis that there’s not a connection,” said Atkins.

It’s a tough ruling for the developers.

“We’re getting to the end game of this dance that’s been going on for the last three years and we wanted a final decision so we can receive clarification about exactly what it was that would have to be done in order to meet the conditions of the application,” said Atkins.

The Holmes Group originally planned to get all the water for the development from groundwater wells, but when MD of Foothills council approved an area structure plan for the development in 2010, it only allowed the first phase to go ahead using groundwater. A pipeline would need to be in place before the second and third phase can proceed.

The developer applied for the ground-water licence more than two years ago and it approached Alberta Environment to decide on the application after a recent Municipal Government Board (MGB) ruling on the project. The board turned down the Town’s appeal of the development over its concerns Wind Walk would impact the Town’s water supply and put more pressure on Okotoks’ roads and facilities.

Atkins said they had every intention of continuing to look for other water sources, such as a pipeline from High River. A pipeline requires a water licence. Licences are currently only available from landowners, businesses and municipalities who hold one.

Alberta Environment spokesperson Carrie Sancartier said the developer’s data wasn’t enough to prove there is no connection between the proposed groundwater wells and the Sheep River’s aquifer.

The Province issued a moratorium on new water licenses to draw water from rivers, streams and lakes in the South Saskatchewan River basin in 2006. Sancartier said this includes groundwater sources connected to river aquifers.

“In order to be successful, any ground-water application would need to have sufficient data to demonstrate that it is not hydraulically connected to surface water in the region,” she said. “That’s what happened in this case.”

Located on the south side of Highway 7 across from the Cornerstone Mall, Wind Walk would consist of 457 single family and multi-family homes as well as a small commercial site.

Foothills MD manager Harry Riva Cambrin said the developer isn’t under any specific time limit to build the community and they will discuss how to proceed.

“If they’re unable to obtain groundwater they will have to look at a surface water licence in order to meet the whole demand,” he said.

Riva Cambrin said water is a challenge for development in Okotoks and the MD and the decision won’t make it any easier for Wind Walk to go ahead.

He said Okotoks has made it clear it won’t supply water to the development and there are no plans to approach the Town. As well, he said the MD and developer won’t be looking for water from the Sheep River.

“If we’re looking for surface water it’s going to be more than likely off the Highwood or the Bow (rivers),” he said.

Okotoks Mayor Bill Robertson said the Town doesn’t have enough water capacity to supply the development.

“We only have a limited amount of water for another 2,000 people ourselves and developers are waiting in line,” he said.

Robertson said the Town is pleased with Alberta Environment’s decision as the municipality was concerned about plans to use groundwater from the beginning.

“That was a huge part of our argument that drawing that much water that close to the Sheep River and that close to our wells would adversely affect the aquifer where we draw our water from,” he said.