The $4 billion Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Expansion Project, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the province's history, is currently in the concept phase. 

A presentation was given by the Water Security Agency and Clifton Associates on Friday, giving an update and an outline of the project. 

The project consists of three phases. The first being the rehabilitation of infrastructure on the west side of the lake. 

Wayne Clifton, CEO of Clifton Associates, explained why there are unfinished waterworks, comes from the province’s commitment to the South Saskatchewan River Project that began in the 1960s but was ultimately scrapped. 

"The fall start in 1968 resulted in the construction of the substructure on the Coteau Bay pumpstation and the west side main canal, but the government changed in 1971 and the new government terminated work in 1972. By 1973 it was abandoned. It wasn't mothballed, but simply abandoned,” Clifton said. 

Local area farmers in recent years have installed several pumps in order to irrigate 3,000 acres. 

The plan is to complete the work so that there is a canal that stretches from the lake to the Village of Conquest that could supply water to irrigate 80,000 acres when completed. 

The provincial government estimates that the first phase would cost about $500 million. 

Phase two would see the expansion of the west side irrigation system further north to the Asquith and Rosetown area, adding an additional 260,000 acres of irrigation. 

The third phase would then be the Qu'Appelle South Water Conveyance Project that would take water from Lake Diefenbaker to Buffalo Pound Lake with a canal along Highway 42. 

About 100 km of the canal would be needed, a balancing reservoir and an outfall into Buffalo Pound. The fall from the upland into Buffalo Pound Lake is estimated at 70 metres. With two generators, it could generate 6.2 Megawatts of power, although it would only be temporary as the water wouldn't be flowing on a perennial basis. 

Once completed, the Qu'Appelle South Water Conveyance Project would add another 120,000 acres of irrigation. 

Phases two and three are expected to cost about $3.5 billion. 

According to Clinton Molde, executive director for the Water Security Agency, Lake Diefenbaker has been underutilized for irrigation water. 

"What's important is that initial vision for Lake Diefenbaker was for 500,000 acres of irrigation. Currently, there's only 20 per cent of that vision implemented with about 110,000 acres of irrigation water sourced out of Lake Diefenbaker,” said Molde. 

Molde added that data over the years shows the nearly 900,000 acres feet of water in Lake Diefenbaker can be made available for irrigation. If 500,000 acres of irrigation water is sourced from Lake Diefenbaker, Molde said it would use 500,000 to 700,000 acres feet of water per year. 

Construction on the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation expansion project is expected to take place in the next 10 years.