News Release Archive

Minidoka Southside Canal repair postponed

Public access restriction is lifted

Media Contact: Dave Walsh, (208) 378-5026, dwalsh@usbr.gov

For Release: March 07, 2018

RUPERT, Idaho – The Bureau of Reclamation announced today repairs to the Southside Canal headgates at Minidoka Dam will be postponed until October 2018. Public recreational access to areas around the headgates will be reinstated.

The headgate repair was postponed due to schedule conflicts and the April 1 start of the irrigation season. Burley, Southwest and Minidoka Irrigation Districts receive water from the Southside Canal at Minidoka Dam.

When the irrigation season ends this fall, Reclamation will install four, new supporting arms and gate reinforcements on the two radial gates that control irrigation water into Southside Canal from Lake Walcott, 12 miles northeast of Rupert, Idaho.

In 2016, heavy ice loading on Lake Walcott caused one of the Southside Canal gate arms to buckle. A temporary repair was performed to prevent future ice loading issues. The repairs scheduled for October–December 2018 will be permanent.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.