Four regional water projects receive federal funding

The Bureau of Reclamation has selected four eastern-Idaho projects to receive small-scale water efficiency grants. The projects are intended to help the entities more efficiently manage water supply reliability.

“This WaterSMART program improves water conservation and reliability for communities throughout the West,” said Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman. “This cost-shared funding is providing an opportunity for these water providers and tribes to invest in using their water more efficiently.”

The four projects include efforts to conserve water in the Henry’s Fork watershed.

Here are the details:

Egin Bench Canals Inc., SCADA and Remote Operations Project
Reclamation Funding: $66,967
Total Project Cost: $133,933
The Egin Bench Canals Inc., located in eastern Idaho, will install remote operating equipment on six main water control structures and flow measurement equipment and telemetry at four additional locations, as well as a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) computer system for data collection and analysis. This project will provide real-time data that will enable more precise management and reduce spills. This project will implement one of the alternatives in the 2015 WaterSMART Henrys Fork Basin Study, which identified canal automation and remote operations as one of the most economical means of conserving water in the Henrys Fork River Watershed.

Fremont-Madison Irrigation District, SCADA and Automation Project
Reclamation Funding: $41,674
Total Project Cost: $83,348
The Fremont-Madison Irrigation District, located in eastern Idaho, will install remote operating equipment on three main control structures, flow measurement devices with telemetry capabilities at six additional sites, and a new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) computer system in the District’s office for data collection and analysis. This project will provide real-time data that will enable more precise management, including reducing spills. This project is supported by the District’s 2009 Water Conservation Plan and was identified in the 2015 WaterSMART Henrys Fork Basin Study.

Mud Lake Water Users, Inc., System-Wide Automated Flow Measurement
Reclamation Funding: $75,000
Total Project Cost: $160,000
The Mud Lake Water Users, Inc., located in southeastern Idaho, will install five in-channel area velocity meters to measure groundwater discharge flows. Data from these meters will be transmitted through an existing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. This project will improve flow management accuracy and help to identify water loss. This project is supported by the district’s Water Management Plan and is consistent with a water management final order from the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Michaud Surface Water Measurement Telemetry Project
Reclamation Funding: $63,496
Total Project Cost: $126,993
The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, located in southeastern Idaho, will install telemetry equipment for 71 existing flow meter sites on surface water pumps. The project will improve water measurement within the Michaud Unit of the Fort Hall Irrigation Project. This project will also help to reduce flow meter down time and identify areas of excess water use. The need for increased water measurement and accounting capacity was identified in the Tribes’ 2006 Water Conservation Reconnaissance Study.