Gold Hill Irrigation District Pipeline Project Underway
KTVL-TV
August 25, 2014
GOLD HILL, Ore. – Construction on improvements to the Gold Hill irrigation District’s Diversion Dam are underway.
Crews are working to place a pipeline underground to replace nearly a century old technology.
Water Watch, a non-profit organization, teamed up with the irrigation district to help get the river diversion up to state and federal standards.
When the project is finished, the pipeline will run underground, covering up more than 1,000 feet of open canal, which fish will swim through instead of getting stuck in the canal.
Water Watch reports the project will cost about $200,000 and those in the Gold Hill Irrigation District won’t have to pay for any of it.
State law normally allows work to be done in water during a period between June 15 and August 31, but an extension was granted to October 15 for the pipeline.
Officials say the unfortunate part of the project is having to shut off some residents’ irrigation water, but explain there was no other way to get around the regulations of working in the river while salmon are spawning.
With the current conditions, and not being able to irrigate between now and mid-October, some lawns are going to turn brown. But some residents say the outcome of this project is worth it.