Limited details are available on the new water licence acquired by the Town of Cochrane, which officials believe will allow the community to continue its rapid growth for at least the next 30 years.
This week, the town announced it had received approval from the Alberta government to acquire a new consumptive water licence.
It follows a landmark deal struck with the Girl Guides of Canada last April, which transferred a non-consumptive licence from Camp Jubilee to the town in exchange for servicing upgrades at the site.
“Partnerships have been key to making this possible, and our community’s commitment to conserving water has been equally important,” said Drew Hyndman, executive director of Development and Infrastructure Services, in a release. “Thanks to these efforts, the licences we’ve secured will meet our needs through 2055 and beyond, and with continued conservation and smart management, they could support the community for many more years.”
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Unlike the Girl Guides agreement, few details have been released on the new licence. Last April, the town announced Alberta Environment and Protected Areas had approved the full transfer of 3,600 acre-feet-per-year (AFY) of water from the Girl Guides’ Camp Jubilee licence to the Town of Cochrane.
In exchange, the town will provide water service to the 128-acre Camp Jubilee, located on the banks of the Bow River, at an estimated cost of about $8 million, including planning. The town anticipated the water connection fee established for new growth in the fall of 2023 would cover the cost.
Work on servicing Camp Jubilee is expected to begin in 2026.
Kristin Huybrecht, the town’s manager of corporate communications, said she would need to consult with Legislative Services to confirm the specific terms of the recent transfer agreement and what can be shared publicly.
The town had anticipated pulling $5.8 million from reserves in its 2025 budget to acquire further water rights.
Town officials say Cochrane’s continued demonstration of leadership in water conservation has played a key role in maximizing the capacity of the newly secured licences and supporting responsible growth. In 2023 and 2024, the community used only 65 per cent of its existing licence.