NEWS

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite C
Boise, Idaho 83709
 
For More Information:
Contact:  Russ Manwaring, 208.365.4475  or
Dastina Johnson, 208.685.6978
 

New Dam Brings Safety, Water Quality & Recreational Benefits to Payette County

PAYETTE, Idaho, January 2007—It is no secret that water has absolute control over almost everything in Idaho-- and the farmers and ranchers know it.  If you need proof, ask any farmer in the Payette Valley. Nearly 500 farmers depend upon the Lower Payette River canals to irrigate more than 13,000 acres on their agricultural operations.  However, when an aging diversion dam could no longer divert reliable levels of water into the canals, the Lower Payette Ditch Company along with numerous federal, state and local entities and congressional leaders sought out an innovative replacement.

The deteriorating wooden horse and plank diversion dam caused numerous problems for those dependent upon the canal’s water and posed safety concerns for the dam workers.  Recently, the dam’s concrete bed structure became misaligned and cracked, allowing water to undermine parts of the concrete foundation that had corroded away.  This made the dam deployment extremely difficult and unsafe, especially for the workers who manually added or removed the wooden planks needed to raise or lower the water levels to force water into the canals.

The Lower Payette Ditch Company proposed replacement of the existing structure with an automated, inflatable rubber bladder dam.  This project would conserve water; provide efficient water delivery; and offer operator safety, low maintenance, reliability, and adequate fish and recreational boater passage, while improving water quality.

Construction crews completed the installation of the bladder dam this past November.  Many Ditch Board members were standing by as the first trial run of the bladder inflation and deflation went off seamlessly.  Ken Mineard, Payette Ditch manager, explains why this new dam is by far the best thing he has ever seen.  “With the old structure, we almost lost a guy because his foot slipped while trying to repair the planks—the water pressure was unbelievably strong.  Now, the bladder dam is computer-operated. From a safety standpoint, it can’t be beat.”  

The project’s total cost is $2.3 million.  The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) received a congressional appropriation of $624,000 through the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program.  Water District 65 contributed approximately $50,000. The Ditch Company borrowed the remaining funds from the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the Soil Conservation Commission through low-interest loans.  Some other key partners involved include the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Russ Manwaring, West Central Highlands RC&D Coordinator, discussed some of the environmental benefits.  "The diversion efficiency of the new dam will allow more water to remain in the river channel thus improving water quality.  A continuous water flow is essential to keep water temperature low and to retain the biodiversity of the river’s aquatic organisms, including fish."  One of the recreational benefits includes a passage for boats and fish, which is an incentive for boaters and anglers.  The automated bladder dam’s consistent water delivery is also good news financially.  Consistent delivery of water could mean improved economic value for Payette farmers and rancher’s bottom line.

Although there are a few more minor details to finalize, the dam is set to be up and running by irrigation season. For additional information on this project, please contact Russ Manwaring, RC&D coordinator, at 208/365-4475 in the USDA Service Center in Emmett.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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