It’s a month overdue, but a new Settlement Canyon pipeline is finally online and running water — just in time to funnel this winter’s snowpack into the reservoir.
Gary Bevan, president of Settlement Canyon Irrigation Company, said contractors installing the pipeline had to complete some final adjustments to make the line fully operational, but water began to run in it last Thursday.
“At least we’re getting water down, that’s something we weren’t getting before,” he said. “It’s been a long hard road, but it looks like we might see the end.”
Contractors began work on the $1.06 million, two-mile pipeline from Sawmill Flat to the reservoir in September with promises to finish in 15 days so it would be ready when winter snows hit. Construction took longer than anticipated, but the snow, likewise, held off. Snotel sensors report eight inches of snow at the Rocky Basin station above Settlement Canyon.
This was far from the first delay the irrigation company faced trying to construct the pipeline, which replaces a pre-existing pipeline that was destroyed by flooding in 1983.
In 2007, the irrigation company began pursuing the current pipeline project, but the Army Corps of Engineers stepped in and asked the irrigation company to complete various environmental studies before it proceeded with the project.
The studies resulted in nearly six years of delays, followed by another year of delays that came about when the irrigation company had trouble securing easements for the project.
The pipeline is expected to capture an estimated 336 gallons of water per minute that was previously lost to ground soak. Bevan said the irrigation company hopes the additional water will keep the reservoir full and put an end to the company’s recent water shortages this summer.
The Settlement Canyon Irrigation Company funded the pipeline project with a loan from Utah’s Clean Water State Revolving fund.