Clifton Associates Ltd. of Regina has been chosen to lead the work on the Westside Irrigation Project in Saskatchewan.
The company was selected after a request for proposals.
As the prime consultant, Clifton will look after the preliminary engineering design for phases 1 and 2 of the project to expand irrigation out of Lake Diefenbaker.
Jim Reiter, minister responsible for SaskBuilds, said this is the high-level work required to get the project rolling.
“This is a big step forward,” he said.
Clifton will also look after consultation work with stakeholders, including First Nations.
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The work is expected to take 12 to 18 months.
The next phases of work will include soil testing, geotechnical work and environmental consulting.
Another RFP is expected soon that will ask for companies that can do more detailed economic analysis.
The Westside portion of the project will be done in two phases. The first will rehabilitate and expand the existing canal system and potentially increase irrigable land by 80,000 acres. The second phase will add another 260,000 acres.
Phase 3 is the Qu’Appelle South Water Conveyance Project, which could add 120,000 acres of irrigation.
