REGINA — This month, Saskatchewan announced it will be embarking on a 10-year $4-billion project to irrigate up to 500,000 acres of land from Lake Diefenbaker.
The project would more than double irrigable land in the province. Work will start with a $22.5 million investment in preliminary engineering and initial construction.
Project construction is expected to occur approximately over the next 10 years in three main phases.
“The announcement of this generational project will see the vision of Lake Diefenbaker completed over the course of the next decade,” Premier Scott Moe said in a press release. “By doubling the amount of irrigable land in our province, this project will be a massive step in completing the goals our government has set out in our 2030 Growth Plan.”
Officials anticipate the first project phase, which includes the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing Westside irrigation canal system, will cost $500 million.
The province noted this work will increase the amount of irrigable land by 80,000 acres in the area and is considered one of the most shovel-ready irrigation projects in the province with 90 per cent of the current canal already in place.
Phases 2 and 3 of the project are estimated to cost up to $3.5 billion.
Phase 2 will see the further expansion and buildout of the Westside Irrigation Project, adding an additional 260,000 acres of irrigable land. Once fully built and developed, the project will eventually see land made available for irrigation near Macrorie, Milden, Zealandia and as far north as Delisle and Asquith.
Phase 3 will see the buildout of the Qu’Appelle South Irrigation Project, adding an estimated 120,000 acres of irrigable land.
Starting at Lake Diefenbaker and going south, the project would run near the communities of Tugaske, Eyebrow, down to Marquis and into Buffalo Pound Lake.
Provincial officials stated this phase would provide the Moose Jaw-Regina corridor and southern Saskatchewan with a secure source of water for the next century and could accelerate significant industrial expansion. Preliminary soil quality analysis of the Qu’Appelle South Irrigation Project area will also begin this year.
“Saskatchewan has one of the most unique opportunities across the country,” said Greg Ottenbreit, the minister responsible for the Water Security Agency. “We are well positioned to further develop while providing a secure water supply for generations to come. I am very confident Legislative Secretary Lyle Stewart will move this project forward to ensure certainty for our economy and a secure water supply for decades to come.”
Provincial officials are expecting a $40 to $80-billion increase in the provincial Gross Domestic Product over the next 50 years due to the irrigation project. The project is estimated to create 2,500 construction jobs a year for 10 years.
Conversations with officials from Ottawa are being co-ordinated by SaskBuilds, in partnership with the Water Security Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, to leverage all possible federal infrastructure funding opportunities, including through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Saskatchewan is seeking federal funding now to support planning work and will be seeking significant longer-term funding.
The province expects to complete further consultations and discussions with stakeholders and First Nations as the project progresses.
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