Regina 鈥� SaskBuilds, the ministry responsible for the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Expansion Project announced by Premier Scott Moe last summer, announced on Feb. 4 which engineering firm will head up the megaproject.
Regina-based Clifton Associates Ltd. (Clifton) has been selected to begin engineering work for the Westside Irrigation Project. Clifton was selected after successfully completing a two-staged transparent procurement process consisting of a request for qualifications and a request for proposals, according to the ministry. 鈥淐lifton鈥檚 work will encompass the first stage of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Expansion - the largest infrastructure project in Saskatchewan鈥檚 history, which is being undertaken in order to double the amount of irrigable land in the province,鈥� the release said.
鈥淭his is an important step forward to realizing the irrigation potential of Lake Diefenbaker,鈥� Minister Responsible for SaskBuilds and Procurement Jim Reiter said. 鈥淥ur government looks forward to the commencement of the first phase of this generational project.鈥�
Clifton鈥檚 team will start work immediately to complete the overall engineering preliminary design for Phases 1 and 2. Their work is expected to take 12 to 18 months, and will inform the next phases of work, including preliminary engineering design for Phases 1 and 2; geotechnical, soil suitability and geographical mapping and environmental consulting services. Clifton will also play a central role in the extensive consultations with First Nations and other stakeholders, which will also start in the near future.
鈥淎s prime consultant, Clifton is proud to lead the Saskatchewan-based Westside Irrigation Canal Project engineering team in association with Stantec and聽Associated Engineering,鈥� Clifton Associates Ltd. CEO聽Wayne Clifton said. 鈥淥ur team has deep Saskatchewan roots; each firm brings more than four decades of successful delivery of major projects in this province. We are delighted to be a part of this legacy project that will further reinforce Saskatchewan鈥檚 position as a leader in global food security while building on the vision made possible by the creation of Lake Diefenbaker a half a century ago. We look forward to continuing the tradition of prairie innovation鈥攁pplying Saskatchewan talent to deliver a legacy project for the people of Saskatchewan.鈥�
Clifton Engineering Group Inc. has offices in Regina, Saskatoon, North Battleford, Lloydminster, Edmonton and Calgary.
Clifton has spent more than a decade intensively involved in a variety of irrigation studies within Saskatchewan. The release noted they are among the most experienced engineering firms across Western Canada and have delivered on other large-scale infrastructure projects in the past. Clifton provides a strong team to review the environmental scope of the work required to complete the initial stages of the necessary provincial and federal regulatory approvals and permits. There will be careful assessment of potential impacts to environmental protection, downstream users, and communities, including consultations with First Nations and other stakeholders as part of the process.
Announced in July 2020 by Premier Scott Moe, the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project is expected to double the amount of irrigable land in Saskatchewan, a significant step to completing goals set out in the 2030 Growth Plan.
Phase 1 of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Expansion Project will include the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing Westside irrigation canal system, increasing irrigable land in Saskatchewan by 80,000 acres. Phase 2 will further expand and buildout the Westside Irrigation Project, adding an additional 260,000 acres of irrigable land. Phase 3 will see the buildout of the Qu鈥橝ppelle 麻豆视频 Water Conveyance Project, adding an estimated 120,000 acres of irrigable land.
New Democratic Party Leader Ryan Meili said by Zoom on Feb. 4, 鈥淲e're interested to see what the process is there. What's the feasibility of this project? Obviously, it's a big project. And, if done right, could be a marketable thing for the province, but it's not big yet. Is it going to be done right? Are the consultation is going to happen with scientists? Are the consultations happening with especially downstream communities, including places like Cumberland House? Lots of questions to be asked, we'll be looking into this one closely.鈥�
