Future of valley’s irrigation secured with dam improvements

Published by admin on Wed, 10/23/2024 - 7:00pm

Resurfacing on the over 100-year-old Galloway Dam was started about a month ago. Funding for the project came together through grants from the Water Quality Program for Agriculture, the Idaho Department of Water Resources, and an Idaho Water Resource Board approved loan to the Weiser Irrigation District. Photo by Nancy Grindstaff
By: 
Nancy Grindstaff
A resurfacing project currently underway at the Galloway diversion dam on the Weiser River east of town promises to extend the life of the dam. In turn, the lifeblood of agricultural production from there to the end of the Weiser Flat should continue to flow for decades to come.
 The idea for the project was brought up over 10 years ago by then Weiser Irrigation District chairman Vernon Lolley, according to Weiser River Soil Conservation District’s Vicki Lukehart.
 “Vern approached the Soil Conservation District regarding the degradation of the spillway on the dam, and the safety of workers,” Lukehart told the Signal American. “He was also concerned that if the dam were to breach it would affect irrigation water delivery from the dam itself to 13 miles out on the Weiser Flat.”
 Lukehart said she and Lolley have continued to work towards the project for several years and eventually received help from the Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission through Meghan Brooksher and engineer Bill Lillibridge.
 “A plan was made to apply for grant funding through the State of Idaho,” Lukehart said. “Jay Edwards, who manages the funding of the Weiser Irrigation District, came on board, and between the five of us, the $394,910 proposed for the dam’s resurface has been acquired.”
 She said the funding is coming from three sources via grants from the Water Quality Program for Agriculture through the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, the Idaho Department of Water Resources, and a loan approved in September, 2023, by the Idaho Water Resource Board to the Weiser Irrigation District. 
 Describing the project, Lukehart said it involves refurbishing the downstream side of the existing dam by filling in holes in its splash pad and extending the existing two-foot crest/access walkway by an additional two feet on the downstream side for approximately 200 feet. 
 According to notes from the Idaho Water Resource Board’s loan request consideration, the resurfacing project will also add another two-feet in elevation, and a six-inch lead upslope on the upstream face to help pass winter ice flows.
 “It will increase worker safety, water diversion efficiency, and extend the dam’s life,” Lukehart said. “The existing structure is being cleaned with brushing and compressed air blasting to remove loose concrete and then refaced. 
 Work is being done during the irrigation off-season, when the entirety of the water can be diverted around the work area by utilizing the Galloway and Cove/Sunnyside ditches.”
 Although Lolley retired from the Weiser Irrigation District board in 2021 after 30 years on the board, he has stuck around in an advisory capacity while the project’s funding has come together and now, as the construction plays out.
 “It’s really been about 15 years since we started this and it’s at the point we’ve got to get this back together or we’re not going to have a reliable reservoir out there,” Lolley told the Signal American. 
 “Darin Braun, Braun-Jensen, out of Cambridge is doing the work on it. We like the work he does because he’s very meticulous about it and has the equipment to do it.
 “It’s going to last a lot longer,” he added. “Vicki has been fantastic working on this with us. Weiser Irrigation is working on another grant, which may or may not go through, but we’re hoping it will all come together at the same time and it will be a very low maintenance, but high return outfit.”
 The dam structure undergoing refurbishment was built in 1936, replacing the original late-18th century gravel dam that directed irrigation water from the Weiser River into the Galloway Canal. 
 The Weiser Irrigation District was established in 1902 and continues to provide water across 15,000 acres for approximately 2,400 shareholders.

Category:

Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

Connect with Us