PF Calgary has formed strong alliances with six of southern Alberta's largest and most active Irrigation Districts, all of which value wildlife and habitat conservation as much as we do. These Districts account for over 1.1 million acres of irrigated land.

PF Calgary's first partnership was undertaken with the Eastern Irrigation District (located in Brooks) in 1998, when both organizations became founding partners of the Partners in Habitat Development program (PHD). With the overwhelming success of the program, and positive endorsement from the EID's participating landowners, we have attracted the support of five additional Irrigation Districts including the St. Mary River and Lethbridge Northern I.D.s located in Lethbridge, Bow River I.D. located in Vauxhall, Western I.D. located in Strathmore, and Raymond I.D. located in Raymond.

Irrigation Districts have a great deal of influence over habitat conservation, making our partnership with them relevant and important for the preservation and enhancement of southern Alberta's biodiversity.

Agricultural production was the driving force behind the creation of the irrigation systems in southern Alberta. Along with it came a new diversity of wildlife species living in habitats created by willow thickets, cattail marshlands and lush shrubbery in canal seepage areas. However, as Irrigation Districts began increasing the efficiency of their irrigation systems by refurbishing their canals, they eliminated the natural elements that provided excellent pheasant and wildlife habitat to the region for so many years.

The state of wildlife habitat throughout the southern Alberta agricultural landscape is of significant concern. After decades of deteriorating habitat and wildlife populations, the next few years will prove to be critical in re-building what years of irrigation canal refurbishment, human activity, modern industry, oil and gas activity, livestock grazing and urbanization has eroded in this area.

The Eastern, St. Mary River, Bow River, Western, Raymond and Lethbridge Northern Irrigation Districts have been instrumental in helping us achieve our objectives of increasing the quality and quantity of healthy wildlife habitat. Between 2004 and 2007, the PHD program looks forward to expanding into and partnering with the remaining seven Irrigation Districts in southern Alberta.