The Saskatchewan Environmental Society says the provincial irrigation plan which would double the amount of irrigation from Lake Diefenbaker needs a comprehensive assessment.
The province announced the $4-billion plan to irrigate 500-thousand acres in early July, but the SES says there needs to be an assessment of the economic impacts, public policy ramifications and the environmental consequences.
Water resources engineer Bob Halliday, who is also the Vice-President of the SES explains that one of the environmental concerns is the effects of the project downstream from Lake Diefenbaker with a significant reduction in flows.
Economically, the most obvious ramification, Halliday says, is a reduced flow means less hydroelectricity being generated, and that means less money coming in for SaskPower.
He would prefer to see the infrastructure already in place from the original Lake Diefenbaker project be fully utilized rather than begin this new endeavour.
The SES would also like the terms of reference for an assessment established through public consultation.