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News Release Archive
Reclamation to Present Water 2025 Challenge Grant Award
Media Contact:
Diana Cross, (208) 378-5020, 10/19/2007 16:55
Megan Montague, mmontaque@pn.usbr.gov
For Release: October 19, 2007
Federal, state and local officials will recognize the Black Canyon Irrigation District in a special award ceremony on October 26 to announce a Water 2025 Challenge Grant.
Bureau of Reclamation Regional Director Bill McDonald, and Idaho Governor Butch Otter will participate in the event set for 9:00 a.m. at Wild Rose Park below Black Canyon Dam, 3999 East Black Canyon Highway, Emmett, Idaho.
The $300,000 Water 2025 Challenge Grant will help the irrigation district to convert 8 miles of open canal to about 8,800 feet of pipe and associated water control and pipe transition structures. In addition to the Federal grant, the State of Idaho and Water District #65 have committed a total of $150,000 to this project. The new pipe will help eliminate seepage and evaporation losses, eliminate the risk of canal failure, and improve water delivery. The project is expected to conserve a minimum of 2,800 acre-feet of water annually with a total estimated cost of $743,631.
The water saved will create a strategic reserve of storage water of 2,800 acre-feet, which is enough water to cover more than eight square miles of land with water 6 inches deep. The water would be available for the Black Canyon Irrigation District to use in water-short years or to make available to other water users through water banking or other marketing practices.
The piping project cuts off an 8-mile long appendix shaped segment of the District's C-West canal that winds through desert lands in Payette County about 30 miles west of Boise and which now serves only one District water user. The porous nature of the soil, combined with heat-driven evaporation, means water is constantly being lost along the entire 8-mile stretch of open canal.
"The Black Canyon Irrigation District is a leader in demonstrating efficient water use in Idaho," said Reclamation Commissioner Robert Johnson. "This project shows us how local ideas and local partnerships are the most practical solution to prevent crisis and conflict over water issues in the West."
The Water 2025 Challenge Grant Program funds projects that will make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation, efficiency and water marketing projects. More information about the Water 2025 Program can be found at http://www.doi.gov/water2025/. Radio: For audio actualities about Black Canyon Irrigation District Water 2025 Challenge Grant visit: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/news/audio/index.html.
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