The Medicine River
Who we Are
We are a non-profit society, comprised of a group of community volunteers who care about the health, access and sustainability of water sources in central Alberta.
Our Mission
The mission of the Medicine River Watershed Society is to increase awareness of the importance of water quality, riparian health and the natural beauty of the Medicine River.
The Society advocates for community, industry and government involvement in protecting and conserving the Medicine River watershed.
Where we are Located
The Medicine River watershed is located in the northwest portion of the Red Deer River watershed, with an extensive hydrological network that flows through the Foothills, Boreal Forest and Parkland Natural Regions. The Medicine River has been identified by the RDRWA as an important source water protection zone for the City of Red Deer, and intersects the rural Counties of Clearwater, Lacombe, Ponoka and Red Deer.
The Medicine River and its tributaries are fed by springs and surface runoff. There is only significant flow during spring runoff and high rain periods. It is 80 km long as the crow flies, but is ~400km in length (by canoe). There is a slope of 88 m in ~400km which results in a 0.019% gradient. It is a very low flow stream that could be more accurately described as a long skinny lake with almost no flow.
A River with two names
The Medicine River, bears a name that originated as a translation from Indigenous terminology. According to historical records, the name “Medicine River” is derived from the Cree words “muskiki and nipagwasimow,” which actually translates to “Sundance River” in English. The name Medicine River was adopted and remains on all maps however.
Read more about the historical name context as reported in the Alberta West news.
What we do:
- Monitor and report on the health and supply of water in the Medicine River and its tributaries.
- Provide a static water well measurement service to members of the society who reside in the Medicine River watershed area.
- Represent the concerns of individuals, and communities to local and provinicial governing bodies
- Provide education to community groups, families and schools.
- Lead and coordinate activities aimed at improving the health of the watershed and a sustainable water supply.
- Support positive stewardship of water usage so that there is clean water available to support human, animal and aquatic life for future generations.
Announcements
Annual General Meeting- October 15, 2026
The MRWS AGM is scheduled for October 15, 2026 from 6-9 pm at the Gilby Hall. Everyone is invited. A light supper will be provided followed by presentations by Dana Kreil on the activities completed by the society in 2025/26 as well as plans for 26/27, a report on the river monitoring and water well level assessment projects initiated this year by John Fletcher and a guest presentation by Jessica Ligget on a recently completed groundwater study. Please RSVP to: medicineriverwatershed@gmail.com
Installation of Chronolog Station
Lacombe Count has installed a Chronolog station on the Medicine River north of Eckville. The station offers a vantage point of water levels around the bridge carrying Hwy 766. These stations see the best results through public participation!
To see the landing page and associated timelapse from user gathered photos visit: https://www.chronolog.io/site/LAC107
Water Well Levels- check static water levels
MRWS has a digital water well meter and we able to measure the depth of water in your well. If you would like to know if the water level in your well has dropped since you had the well drilled- email us at : medicineriverwatershed@gmail.com. The fee for this service is $100.
If you have concerns about accessible or decreasing well water levels call the Energy & Environmental Response Line at: 1- 800- 222 -6514
Useful Links
Thank you to Our Sponsors and Partners
We are all working together to ensure that those who live and work in the Medicine River watershed geographical area have access to sustainable water for years to come.
