The Bostwick project will convert 6.8 miles of open ditch canal laterals to buried pipe and is expected to result in savings of approximately 1,360 acre-feet of water annually. The total estimated project cost is $595,000, including $250,000 of Reclamation funding and $345,000 of District funding and in-kind services. Conserved water will be used to reduce water delivery shortages, will be stored for future use or marketing opportunities, or will otherwise assist in achieving compliance with the Republican River Compact.
The Bostwick Irrigation District in Nebraska serves 22,454 acres in south-central Nebraska along the Republican River in Harlan, Franklin, Webster, and Nuckolls counties. The District's water supply is from the natural flows of the Republican River and from irrigation storage in Harlan County Lake and is delivered to project acres through a system of canals and laterals. Construction of the pipe project is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2010 following the irrigation season and should be completed by December, 2011.
"The WaterSMART program provides us with an opportunity to work with our stakeholders and plan future water resource needs for the Bostwick Irrigation District," said Aaron Thompson, the Nebraska-Kansas Area Office Manager. "The ultimate goal is to increase energy efficiency and improve environmental conditions while addressing water demands in Nebraska."
For more information on the WaterSMART program, visit http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/.
Contact:
Brent Esplin (308) 389-5310
Tyler Johnson (406) 247-7609