Contractor W.W. Clyde will begin work to pipe the lower 3.5 miles of the Steinaker Service Canal August 15, 2016. This project is a joint effort between Bureau of Reclamation, who is providing the materials and construction management, and the Uintah Water Conservancy District who contracted to install the materials.

“We are excited about this project,” stated Gawain Snow, UWCD General Manager. “This section of canal has an estimated 1,200 acre-feet of water loss annually and some of the under shots are too small to allow delivery of the needed water to irrigators on the lower end of the canal.

“This project will provide greater efficiency and effective use of a valuable natural resource, delivering water where it is needed, as needed,” said Snow. “We have been coordinating with the Highline and Ashley Upper Canals to minimize impacts to the irrigators affected by this project, and appreciate their cooperation and support.”

The Project consists of installing 12- to 63-inch high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, making connections to existing delivery points, installing water meters, and installing a screening structure at the inlet to the 63-inch pipe. Construction is expected to be substantially completed by December 2016. Normal operation of the canal and pipeline will resume in time for irrigation in spring 2017.

The Steinaker Service Canal is a feature of Reclamation’s Vernal Unit of the Central Utah Project. Initial construction of the canal was completed in 1962. The Uintah Water Conservancy District has operated and maintained the canal as well as the other features of the Vernal Unit under contract with Reclamation for more than 50 years.

For more information, contact the Uintah Water Conservancy District a (435) 789-1651