Creation of Province of Alberta. Natural resources remained in federal control.

The Rocky Mountain Cement Company was founded just east of Blairmore, using some of the 90 million tons of fresh Turtle Mountain limestone that had crashed into the Crowsnest valley 2 years earlier, in the Frank Slide.

Construction began on a steel bridge viaduct across the Oldman River west of Lethbridge to replace the original line through the Oldman River valley.

Dominion Experimental Farm, established by William Fairfield at the site of the current Agricultural Research Centre, became the Lethbridge Experimental farm under his direction. He directed research into both irrigation and dryland agriculture. A big crop of a blend of Red Fife and Indian wheat called ‘Marquis’ proved they could farm (it was an early-maturing variety and so avoided frost). This helped win WWI and II because it kept the troops fed. However, it was ultimately not rust resistant

The Dominion Forest Reserves Act formalized timbered areas excluded from sale and settlement to allow designating and managing timbered land, thus sustaining timber supply and water supply for homesteaders. Protection from fire was a key management direction. Kootenay Lakes Forest Reserve was designated as the Kootenay Lakes Dominion Forest Reserve.

Incorporation of Southern Alberta Land Company for the purpose of building an irrigation project to take water from the Bow River to lands in the vicinity of modern day Vauxhall.

Pincher Creek incorporated as a Town.

The high-level steel bridge across the Oldman was begun.

West Canadian Collieries moved its offices from Lille (near Frank) to Blairmore, and they begin developing the Blairmore South mine. Blairmore Coal and Coke Company also began developing.

Flood washed away a high-level bridge substructure. Newspaper reports for June described massive flooding of the Oldman River at Macleod. The river was a mile wide on account of heavy rains. The lowlands were devastated and the town was threatened. The powerhouse at McLeod was undermined and fell into the river. Settlers on the lowlands drove their stock to safe places. The McLeod general hospital and several houses were being undermined and in great danger of collapse.

Completion of the Lethbridge viaduct.

Kootenay Lakes Forest Reserve re-designated as the Waterton Lakes Forest Park.

The Bow Island gas field near the forks of the Oldman and Bow Rivers was discovered, the first major gas discovery in Alberta. Old Glory was the name of the discovery well. A pipeline reached Lethbridge in 1912, built by Canadian Western Natural Gas Co., founded by Eugene Coste (known as Father of Natural Gas in Canada).

Terms of Boundary Waters Treaty between the United States and Great Britain, which represented Canada, approved on January 11. Article VI of this treaty provided for the apportionment of the waters of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers between Canada and United States. Article VII created the International Joint Commission to adjudicate any disputes on boundary water issues.

Rocky Mountain Cement Company began producing its Crowsnest Brand cement at a rate of 500 barrels a day. WWI and its credit crunch crippled the business and it closed in 1939.

Hillcrest Collieries Limited operated, digging into the roots of Hillcrest Mountain. Pumps were installed to keep the workers dry as they tunneled below the water table.

Large forest fires burn uncontrolled throughout the headwaters of the Oldman River, as well as the headwaters of the Bow, North Saskatchewan and Athabasca Rivers. The same year, the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve was designated by the federal government of Canada, to protect timbered lands in the headwaters, which supplied most of the water for the Great Plains to the east. Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve created, with George Ritchie as ranger posted in Coleman, and tasked with establishing the boundaries of the Crowsnest Forest.

Irrigation from the Oldman to the land north of Fort Macleod discussed. Drought conditions prompted Iron Springs farmer George Pearson, on behalf of areas farmers, to petition Ottawa to build an irrigation system on the north side of the Oldman River, using pumps to lift the water out of the valley, as that would bring stability to the agricultural sector. Frank Oliver was the Minister of the Interior in the Federal Laurier government and was scheduled to visit Lethbridge in the near future. The federal government rejected his request, saying they had no expertise in irrigation and it regarded the pumping system as inefficient. Further, the federal government did not fund the construction of irrigation infrastructure – but Pearson persisted, and the seeds were sown in the minds of politicians. Enthusiasm from the farmers varied according to dry or wet years.

Unprecedented year of wildfires in Alberta, burning off half of the timber on southern Alberta’s Eastern Slopes.

Town of Blairmore was gazetted and borrowed $45,000 to pay for the dam on York Creek, and the associated water distribution system. Part of the money was used to construct a fire hall.

Robert Laird Borden (Conservative) elected Prime Minister.

Kootenay Lakes Dominion Forest Reserve designated as Waterton Lakes Dominion Park and further reduced in size to 13.5 square miles.

Robert Laird Borden (Conservative) elected Prime Minister.

Kootenay Lakes Dominion Forest Reserve designated as Waterton Lakes Dominion Park and further reduced in size to 13.5 square miles.

Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve created, with George Ritchie as ranger posted in Coleman, and tasked with establishing the boundaries of the Crowsnest Forest.

Japanese began work as the coal miners in Lethbridge. The Big Strike began with companies belonging to the Operators Association, locking union men out of their mines. Ethnic divisions were exploited, and the poorest and most desperate men were enticed back into the mines.

Appointment of H. A. Powell as first Canadian Commissioner and T.C. Casgrain as first Canadian Chair on the International Joint Commission (IJC).

The International Joint Commission meeting in Washington on January 10 revealed contrary interpretations between Canadian and American Commissioners (IJC, n.d.), as to the meaning of Article VI.

Canadian Pacific Railway leases for 999 years the railway assets of the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company, and purchases all the company's lands and irrigation works. The land assets were transferred by the CPR to its recently created Natural Resources Department. CPR purchases Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company. They developed 2 large tracts of irrigated land between Medicine Hat and Calgary.

Alberta dedicated $1.5 million to improve its roads, including the route from Lethbridge into the Crowsnest Pass. There was talk of extending it through the Pass to connect with B.C. (became possible in 1913).

Lethbridge hosted the 7th International Dryland farming Congress. Visitors were housed in large tents. The population was 8K and the visitors numbered over 5K, from 15 countries. These were wet years. Dryland agriculture played a major role in southern Alberta agriculture between the mid-1890s through to 1916.

West Canadian Collieries began mining north of Blairmore and continued for nearly half a century. Barren ground between the river and the Crowsnest Highway indicated where waste coal was dumped. Mounds of it towered above the trees.

Blairmore Brewery opened its doors.

Federal government initiated investigation of the Oldman River for development of irrigation project, which would become the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation Project.

Western Canadian Irrigation Congress created money for the public subsidization of irrigation.

World War I Starts.

Charles Magrath succeeded T.C. Casgrain as the chair of the Canadian section of the International Joint Commissioners.

Bassano Dam (and the Brooks aqueduct), on the lower Bow River near Brooks, was, at the time, the largest dam in the world.

Chin Coulee Reservoir was in existence, as per a 1915 survey. The year of construction was unavailable.

By this year, the Kainai agriculture business had developed so well that, without any financial aid from the government, they were producing an annual yield of 65,150 bushels of wheat on 2,600 acres, 26,980 bushels of oats on 768 acres, 7,150 bushels of table vegetables, and 7,600 tons of hay and green fodder.

The United States constructed a canal to divert water from the St. Mary River in western Montana, to the west branch of the Milk River.

The Kainai cattle herd had grown to over over 4,000 head. In addition, the tribe haD more than 3,600 horses.

Arthur Meighen became Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, and adopted a policy of exploitation of Indian reserves.

Creation of the Canada Land and Irrigation Company, successor to the Southern Alberta Land Company, which pursued the development of irrigation.

Arrival of Hutterites in the Oldman watershed, with the establishment of colonies at East Cardston, West Raley, Standoff, Elmspring, Old Elm, Rockford and Milford.

WWI ended and because of it the government desired to create opportunities for returning veterans. To this effect, the Indian Department coerced many tribes to sell off portions of their reserves to support affordable homesteading for the vets. Kainai refused to sell a proposed 90,000 acres. As a result, their Agent (representing the Indian Department) froze access to the revolving fund they’d set up to support new farmers, and ordered that no further land be broken up on the reserve. Then, in further punishment for the tribe’s refusal to sell, the Indian Department brokered a lease of the 90,000 acres to non-Indians, primarily local politicians. They fenced in 40,000 acres of the best heavy grassland on the southwest end of the reserve, and designated an open block of 50,000 acres of shortgrass prairie for sheep on the north end of the reserve. Kainai members living in these areas were forced to relocate. No compensation was offered to tribal members for either the leases themselves, nor for any losses sustained.

Feds approved the allocation of irrigation water from the Oldman for the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District. Hutterites arrived from Tabor, S Dakota.

Lethbridge North Irrigation District established on October 23, 1919 by order of the Minister of Public Works.

Kainai Tribe lost more than 1,500 head of cattle and 600 horses to starvation over the winter, as a result of their reserve being over-grazed by the livestock of non-Indian lessees.

Vote taken by residents living within the proposed region for the new Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District. The vote was for the creation of the LNID.

Negotiations started in 1915 between the Taber Irrigation District and the Canadian Pacific Railway to construct irrigation works in the district. Financial difficulties then caused construction delays, but the works were eventually completed in 1920 with water sourced from the Chin Coulee Reservoir.

Charles S. Noble, an award winning farmer and early soil conservationist, created a V shaped blade that would help to slow down topsoil erosion and increase moisture retention through a “trash” layer of stubble from cultivated grains. This invention revolutionized the way farming was done in southern Alberta.

Western Canadian Collieries allowed the depths of its Greenhill operations to flood. The mine’s records were then held by Anderson Exploration.

R&R Lumber Supplies founded near Frank.

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) opened Southern Alberta chapter, one of the first in Canada. Started as a grassroots response to commercial development pressures in Banff National Park.

It repealed former laws and introduced a cost-sharing program between the Alberta government and the Irrigation Districts, since it was determined that 4/5 of the economic benefits of irrigation go to the province. Therefore, the provincial government assumed 86% of all capital works (from the Heritage and Savings Trust Fund), such as rehabilitation of the irrigation infrastructure. Each irrigation district took on 14% of the costs. Operation and maintenance of the District was the responsibility of the ratepayers via their water rates.

The St. Mary and Milk Rivers Development (SMRD) went from a crown corporation, to the user-run St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID). The Act transferred the SMRD's manager's authority to a board of directors. As well, SMRID assumed overall coordination and operation of the main canal from Ridge Reservoir to Medicine Hat. Along with that, the creation of the Bow River Irrigation District, which took over the Bow River Development Crown Corporation in the Enchant area.

Premier Manning resigned; Premier Harry Strom was sworn into office.

The Master Agreement on Apportionment was signed by members of the Prairie Province Water Board, and established an intergovernmental framework to manage transboundary water, such that water was shared equitably between the Prairie Provinces, and transboundary surface water quality and groundwater aquifers were protected.

The voracious Mountain Pine Beetle began chewing its way into regional forests, including Waterton Lakes National Park. Although there were normally acceptable levels of populations of this beetle in forest areas, in 1977, and again in 1979, forest conditions allowed for these populations to reach epidemic proportions. The 1979 outbreak was so invasive that it lasted until 1982.

Bill Yurko became the new Minister of the Environment for Alberta.

The first Department of the Environment was established in Alberta, through the Department of Environment Act, to conserve and improve the environment for future Albertans. Responsibilities included air and water pollution, public waterworks and sewer systems, water management and agricultural chemicals. The Environmental Appeals Board was established.

The Land Surface Conservation and Reclamation Act was passed. It required pre-planning and pre-approval of coal mining operations.

The Land Conservation Guidelines released by Alberta Environment included provisions to protect watersheds from erosion, and protect waterfowl and wildlife habitat. Provisions included uncleared setbacks from waterbodies and retention of natural shelterbelts on sloping lands.

Dave Russell became the new Minister of Environment in Alberta. Roméo LeBlanc became the new Federal Acting Minister of Environment.

Bellevue installed a sewage system and extended water distribution to other areas.

Reclamation Guidelines issued by the Reclamation Council required coal mines to submit detailed reclamation plans.

Oldman River Basin Study Management Committee report published, which advised against the Oldman River Dam.

The Stafford Reservoir, in its current form, was created by the construction of the Stafford Dam on the SMRID main canal, downstream of the Chin Reservoir. This replaced the original Stafford Dam built in the 1920s, which was located 5km upstream of the current structure.

Water Resources Commission, known as the Kroeger Commission, was officially established to provide advisory services to the government of Alberta on water resource policy. It was phased out in 1995.

A new concept in reclamation was being discussed: equivalent land capability. Land capability was to be used as a measure of reclamation rather than productivity and land use. The creation of an ‘end-pit lake’ was an example of this philosophy.

The Eastern Slopes policy was revised with watershed management ranked as the highest priority, including maintaining water yield and protecting critical fisheries habitat. Provision of recreation and tourism opportunities was also identified as extremely important. More detailed sub regional integrated resource plans were developed over the next decade.

The provincial Environment Department acquired the worst 50 acres of the waste coal site from the former West Canadian Collieries, and in the summer began recovery operations. It took two years to remove 660,000 tons of material, and the material was trucked north ten miles and dumped into the pit of the Grassy Mountain strip mine.

Alberta Water Resources Commission completed a report outlining recommendations on water management in the South Saskatchewan River Basin, based on public hearings.

Progressive Conservative Party won Alberta General election.

Livingstone-Porcupine Hills Sub-regional Integrated Resource Plan completed.

Friends of the Oldman River (FOR) established, to oppose dam. Provincial government changed the name from ‘Three Rivers’ to ‘Oldman’ to sound less invasive. The north, middle and south forks of Oldman were renamed. AB Environment Department quietly issued itself a license under the Water Resources Act to construct the Oldman dam.

Legal challenge by FOR, but construction was allowed until appeal heard.

Cabinet shuffle as a political tactic because the government acknowledged that the Department of Environment was in a conflict of interest situation.

Formation of the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition.

Poll Haven Integrated Resource Plan completed.

Celebration of “This Old Man,” organized by FOR. It featured high profile celebrities and attracted several thousand people to the Oldman River at Maycroft.