By Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald November 30, 2009

Southern Alberta's population will increase by about two million people over the next 66 years, with most of that growth centred around Calgary, says a new provincial planning document.

Even before the population swells to that level, the Alberta government says it wants to improve water conservation, efficiency and productivity by 30 per cent in the next six years.

The detailed strategies for meeting these and other targets will be addressed in public meetings regarding the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. The meetings begin today.

The purpose of the meetings is to discuss regional plans that attempt to balance population and economic growth with land conservation and the protection of water sources.

A government report setting out the terms of reference for the regional plan states that "significant growth is anticipated in the Calgary Metropolitan Region over the next 60 to 70 years. It is expected to add 1.6 million residents by 2076."

In the rest of the region‐‐which extends from Calgary to the Rockies, and south and east to Alberta's boundaries, taking in both Lethbridge and Medicine Hat‐‐the population is forecast to increase by 400,000 people by 2076.

Critics say the provincial government needs to move swiftly and decisively to address growth demands.
For instance, water conservation group Water Matters argues in a report to be released Monday that historic attempts to protect source waters in the southern Eastern Slopes have failed because policy and legislation have been too weak.

The report recommends specific targets for landscape protection, and protection strategies for every watershed.

One of the first regional plan meetings will be held in Calgary today, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Glenmore Inn.

The details of other meetings across southern Alberta can be found at landuse.alberta.ca/Regional‐Plans/SouthSaskatchewan/ documents/ConsultationInformationSession‐Nov20‐2009.pdf.