Today, the Water Security Agency announced it would be proactively self-declaring the Westside Irrigation Rehabilitation Project (WIRP) for a provincial environmental assessment.
“The Water Security Agency is committed to ensuring the environment is protected as this project develops through the provincial environmental assessment process,” Minister responsible for the Water Security Agency Daryl Harrison said. “We are committed to engaging with rights holders and stakeholders in an open and transparent way and this formalizes the work that we have started.”
Baseline data collection and the planning and design work will go into a proposal, which is then submitted to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. Collecting feedback with rights holders and stakeholders through various engagements will help incorporate their input into the design of the project as part of the environmental assessment.
“Irrigation Saskatchewan is pleased to see this project moving forward and the government’s commitment to doing it in the right way,” said David Bagshaw, Chair of Irrigation Saskatchewan. “Our members are producers and strong stewards of the land they farm, and we believe in responsible irrigation expansion while protecting the environment.”
Announced in July 2024, the planning and engineering design work for WIRP is being worked on by Prairie Engineering Partners, a joint venture from Stantec and MPE engineering firms. Baseline work was commissioned as part of the environmental assessment field work for both aquatic and terrestrial components, including water quality and quantity.
WIRP has the potential to add 100,000 acres of irrigated land. A recent analysis of the 100,000-acre project was done by KPMG LLP. It shows an increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $5.9 billion while generating over 30,000 jobs (person years of employment) and 9,500 jobs during the construction phase.
For media inquiries, contact: Patrick Boyle Water Security Agency 306-631-6997 Patrick.Boyle@wsask.ca
As planning continues for the Westside Irrigation Rehabilitation Project – the Government of Saskatchewan will be hosting a pair of public information sessions to provide important information about the project, engage with the community, encourage open dialogue and gather valuable feedback to shape the future of the project.
The sessions will give the attendees a chance to learn about the scope of the Westside Irrigation Rehabilitation Project, what work is underway, any updates about the project and its anticipated benefits as well as the steps that are being taken to protect the environment while developing the project. Participants will be asked to share their thoughts, ask questions and provide input on a variety of topics.
The public information sessions are a critical component of this project, as they provide an avenue for open dialogue and feedback. The feedback gathered will be integral in refining the project design and addressing any potential concerns. The format of these sessions is designed to be interactive and informative, creating a platform for meaningful engagement.
The Westside Irrigation Rehabilitation Project aims to create approximately 100,000 irrigated acres by modernizing and expanding decades-old infrastructure. This scope includes updating 50 kilometers of underutilized canal infrastructure, building a new pump station and completing the Conquest Reservoir near the Village of Conquest. It’s an essential step toward creating water security to an area that has traditionally not had access to high-quality water resources.
Engineering and design work is already underway, with completion expected later this year. Major construction on the project is targeted for late 2026.
Westside Irrigation Rehabilitation Project Public Information Sessions April 15th, 2025 Conquest School located at 401 Pacific Ave, in Conquest, SK. 1:30pm and another at 6:00pm.
Choose the time that works best for you to come to learn about the project and provide your input on this important initiative.
Work on the Westside Irrigation Rehabilitation Project Continues
The Water Security Agency (WSA) is making progress towards starting construction on the Westside Irrigation Rehabilitation Project (WIRP) by 2026.
WSA and lead consultant Prairie Engineering Partners (PEP) recently conducted in-water geotechnical testing to understand the ground conditions near the proposed location of the Westside Pump Station and canal. Sub-contractors hired by PEP completed the work in November using a barge to drill boreholes more than forty (40) metres deep in Coteau Bay.
The barge was transported from Alberta and later assembled at the public boat launch at Lake Diefenbaker before being moved into the Bay.
Soil samples were collected from below the water surface to enable WSA to classify soils and their geotechnical and engineering characteristics. That information will be used to help design and install a temporary cofferdam in the same location, which will eventually allow for the construction of a pump station. Cofferdams are typically used to withhold both water and soil pressure during major projects like this.
The soil samples collected throughout the project area will provide information for other foundational engineering work, including intakes and the canal infrastructure. This will ensure all parts of construction can be built safely and that the westside pump station will be safe to operate.
This is the first time in-water geotechnical drill testing has occurred since the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Projects (LDIP) was first announced in 2020. Since that time, there have been more than 200 bore holes completed on land around the pump station, canal and near the Conquest Reservoir. WSA and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture have also completed thousands of acres of agricultural soil testing – providing a reliable indication for the irrigability of the soil in the project area.
WSA will also begin working with federal and provincial regulators to ensure all environmental requirements are met and the proper authorizations and permits are completed. Once the technical, environmental and design data are completed in 2025, the information gathered will be reflected in the final design and total cost of the project and used for tendering of construction packages.
This is a major milestone since Premier Scott Moe first announced the intended project last spring. It will optimize the existing infrastructure and develop new infrastructure from Lake Diefenbaker to the Ardath-Swanson area near Conquest to create 100,000 acres of irrigated land.
Today, Premier Scott Moe announced the Government of Saskatchewan is moving forward with constructing the early works of the first 100,000 acres of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project. The total cost is estimated to be $1.15 billion which will be shared between the provincial government and producers who choose to participate in the project.
“Our government is happy to take the first major step in creating the most sustainable food and economic security project in Canada which will create major benefits for generations,” Moe said. “Saskatchewan can be a leader across the country and move this project forward which will provide billions in economic benefits and thousands of jobs.”
The engineering, design and engagement with stakeholders and Indigenous rights holders is expected to be done over the next 12 to 14 months, with major construction of the 100,000 acres being targeted for 2025.
“Saskatchewan has an amazing food security story to tell,” Agriculture Minister and Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency David Marit said. “Since 2020, over 58,000 acres of irrigation have been developed, which is the largest growth since the early 1980s. The Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project will position Saskatchewan to meet the needs of a growing population across the globe. We continue to encourage the federal government to come to the table in a more meaningful way and be part of this important project as it moves forward.”
“Today marks an important point in our history for rural municipalities, SARM applauds the provincial government for moving this project ahead and ensuring future generations of rural residents will experience the benefits,” SARM President Ray Orb said. “This is the start of a journey to bring Saskatchewan and Canada much-needed food and economic security.”
By 2050, the world’s population is expected to increase by nearly two billion people, from eight billion to close to 10 billion. This means global food production must increase by 70 per cent to meet this demand.
“Irrigation expansion across Saskatchewan will be essential to move our province forward into the future.”
Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association Chairman Aaron Gray said. “Irrigators in this province are committed to helping feed the world and create significant benefits for the people of Saskatchewan.”
The Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Projects will have a significant impact on Saskatchewan’s economy for many years to come. In addition to the thousands of construction jobs created during the build of the three projects, changes to agricultural output will create more jobs in processing and transportation. Projected returns in Gross Domestic Product are in the $40 to $80 billion range.
A survey for farmers and ranchers in the Westside Irrigation Projects area is now open for responses. This survey serves as an important input into the project planning stage for the Westside Irrigation Projects. All farmers and ranchers who own, rent or lease land in the Westside Irrigation Projects (WIP) area are encouraged to respond to the survey.
All responses will be entirely anonymous and confidential. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Please click the link below to participate.
On July 27, 2021, the Water Security Agency (WSA) along with Clifton, Stantec and Associated Engineering (Prime Consultant) hosted an open house at the Dakota Dunes Resort in the Whitecap Dakota First Nation. The event provided an opportunity to share information with First Nations and Métis leadership on the preliminary studies being completed on the Westside Irrigation Project, as part of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Projects.
A total of 31 participants, representing five First Nations and six Métis Locals or organizations, attended the open house. In addition to watching drone footage of the existing Westside Irrigation Project Main Canal, participants were also able to connect and interact with representatives from the WSA, government ministries and the Prime Consultant Team while reviewing project information displays. The displays are available HERE.
The main discussions centered around the economic impact of the project, employment opportunities, environmental issues, and potential effects on the long-term water supply. The information provided focused on the rehabilitation of the existing infrastructure and the expansion of the existing Westside Irrigation Project, built in the 1970s.
The Westside Rehabilitation Project is a great opportunity to upgrade the existing infrastructure with the potential to expand irrigation within the province. The rehabilitation work will increase the amount of irrigable land by 80,000 acres in the project area. The Westside Expansion Project will also add 260,000 acres irrigable land.
The feedback and discussion items from the open house will be considered when developing the proposed design options for both the Westside Rehabilitation, and Westside Expansion Projects.
The WSA and the Prime Consultant Team will continue to build meaningful relationships and explore potential opportunities with First Nations and Métis Locals and organizations in Saskatchewan.
