Reclamation Projects in Idaho
Avondale Project
Rehabilitation of privately developed irrigation facilities on the 880 acre Avondale Project required the reconstruction of a pumping plant at the source of supply, Hayden Lake, and the construction of an elevated equalizing tank with a water main and distribution system for sprinkler irrigation. The water source is now three deep wells drilled by the irrigation district in lieu of Hayden Lake. Farming is on a part_time basis and subdividing continues since this is a popular resort area which also offers industrial employment.Boise Project
The Boise Project furnishes irrigation water to about 225,000 acres of project lands and 167,000 acres under special and Warren Act contracts. The irrigable lands are in southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon.Principal facilities include six storage dams, which form reservoirs with a total active capacity of 1,693,500 acre_feet, two diversion dams, three powerplants with a combined capacity of 36,500 kilowatts, 346 miles of canals, seven pumping plants, 929 miles of laterals, and 342 miles of drains.
To facilitate organization of the administrative and operating procedures, the irrigable project lands are divided into the Arrowrock and Payette Divisions. Some of the features serve only one division; other features serve both divisions as well as other nearby projects.
Dalton Gardens Project
Dalton Gardens is a privately developed project 2 miles north of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and 30 miles east of Spokane, Washington, on the eastern edge of the extensive Spokane Valley plain, known as Rathdrum Prairie. The project's irrigation works include a pumping plant, equalizing reservoir and main line, and a distribution system that has been reconstructed to supply 981 acres of land with an adequate sprinkler irrigation water supply. The project was rehabilitated by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1954_1955. Additional pipe rehabilitation work was completed in 1962_1964.Lewiston Orchards Project
The Lewiston Orchards Project was originally constructed by private interests, beginning in 1906. Most of the project features have been rehabilitated or rebuilt by the Bureau of Reclamation. The project facilities include the Webb Creek Diversion Dam, Sweetwater Diversion Dam, feeder canals, three small storage reservoirs, a domestic water_treatment plant, a domestic water system, and a system for distribution of irrigation water. A full irrigation water supply is delivered to project lands totaling 3,841 acres, and a dependable domestic water system is provided for 14,734 residents.Little Wood River Project
Little Wood River Project includes lands within an area 2 miles wide and 12 miles long upstream and downstream from Carey, Idaho, in the south_central section of the State. The project provides a supplemental irrigation water supply for 9,549 acres of land. The principal construction feature is the enlarged Little Wood River Dam and Reservoir that serve previously constructed diversion and distribution works. Flood control is provided by operation of the reservoir on a forecast basis.Mann Creek Project
The Mann Creek Project in west_central Idaho consists of 5,085 irrigable acres utilizing an existing distribution system in the narrow valleys of Mann and Monroe Creeks, both tributaries of the Weiser River. The natural flow of Mann Creek historically has been near its lowest point during the growing season when the demand for irrigation water is at its highest. Project development provides for storage of winter and spring flows of Mann Creek for use later in the irrigation season.Michaud Flats Project
The Michaud Flats Project provides irrigation for 11,206 acres along the Snake River adjacent to the town of American Falls in southeastern Idaho. Surface flow of the Snake River, stored in space allotted to the project in American Falls (Minidoka Project) and Palisades (Palisades Project)Reservoirs, is pumped from below American Falls Reservoir into canals that serve 69 percent of the land. Return flow is used on as much of the land as it will serve, and ground water is pumped from wells to serve the remainder. The project area is part of 65 square miles of flat rolling land south of the Snake River between Pocatello and Eagle Rock known as the Michaud Flats. Irrigable land on the flats is divided by the western boundary of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation into a Michaud Flats extension of the Fort Hall Indian Project and the Michaud Flats Project.
Minidoka Project
Minidoka Project lands extend discontinuously from the town of Ashton, in eastern Idaho along the Snake River, about 300 miles downstream to the town of Bliss in south_central Idaho. The project furnishes irrigation water for 1,168,866 acres of land from five reservoirs that have a combined active storage capacity of more than 3 million acre_feet.The project works consist of Minidoka Dam and Powerplant and Lake Walcott, Jackson Lake Dam and Jackson Lake, American Falls Dam and Reservoir, Island Park Dam and Reservoir, Grassy Lake Dam and Grassy Lake, two diversion dams, 1,662 miles of canals, 3,929 miles of laterals, 1,249 miles of drains, and 177 water supply wells.
Owyhee Project
The Owyhee Project lies west of the Snake River in Malheur County, Oregon, and Owyhee County, Idaho. Principal towns in the area are Homedale, Idaho, and Adrian, Nyssa, and Ontario, Oregon. The project furnishes irrigation water for 105,249 acres of land lying along the west side of the Snake River in eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho. An additional 12,900 acres are furnished supplemental water. About 72 percent of the lands are in Oregon, and 28 percent in Idaho. Irrigable lands are divided into the Mitchell Butte, Dead Ox Flat, and Succor Creek Divisions. The key feature of the project is Owyhee Dam, on the Owyhee River about 11 miles southwest of Adrian, Oregon, which acts as both a storage and diversion structure. Project works also include 172 miles of canals, pipelines, and tunnels; 543 miles of laterals; 9 pumping plants; and 227 miles of drains.Palisades Project
The Palisades Project is a multiple_purpose development involving irrigation, power, flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife conservation. Palisades Dam is on the South Fork of the Snake River at Calamity Point in eastern Idaho about 11 miles west of the Idaho_Wyoming boundary. The project provides a supplemental water supply to about 670,000 acres of irrigated land in the Minidoka and Michaud Flats Projects. The 176,600 kilowatt hydroelectric powerplant furnishes energy needed in the upper valley to serve irrigation pumping units, municipalities, rural cooperatives, and other power users.The principal features of the project are Palisades Dam, Reservoir, and Powerplant.
Preston Bench Project
The Preston Bench Project, located in southeastern Idaho near the town of Preston, includes Mink Creek Canal which supplies irrigation water for 5,571 acres of highly developed land in the vicinity of Preston.Rathdrum Prairie Project
The Rathdrum Prairie Project area extends about 12 miles north and 13 miles west of Coeur d'Alene in the panhandle of Idaho. The project consists of the Post Falls, Hayden Lake, and East Greenacres Units, totaling 10,244 acres of irrigable land. In 1992 about 8,100 acres were irrigated.Major facilities of the Post Falls Unit consist of a pumping plant, 3,000 feet of discharge pipe, 9 miles of canal, and 20 miles of laterals. Hayden Lake facilities consist of a pumping plant, 2 miles of 27_inch_diameter discharge pipe, a 10,026_cubic foot storage tank, and a 32_mile pipe distribution system.
Primary facilities of the East Greenacres Unit include 14 wells in 3 well complexes, a 43,446 cubic_foot regulating reservoir, and 45.4 miles of pipe distribution system.
Ririe Project
The Ririe Project was constructed to impound and control the waters of Willow Creek, a Snake River tributary in eastern Idaho, for flood control, irrigation, and recreation. Significant fish and wildlife protection measures also are included. Major features include Ririe Dam and Lake, and a floodway bypass outlet channel.