b'A map detailing where the irrigation expansion will take place in and around the Lake Diefenbaker area.PHOTO: WATER SECURITY AGENCYphase occurs on the west side of the South Saskatchewan River,Theres plenty of arable land in Saskatchewan that is prime for landowners will still benefit from its completion. Lawless notesirrigation, he says. We can contribute to the nations food security the broader community invariably benefits from these projects asin a much more impactful way through irrigation.substantial amounts of money are invested in the community andAnd its not just seed potato growers that can be excited, but region, such as irrigation and municipal infrastructure and generalanyone working in agriculture looking to produce crops under purchases throughout nearby towns. The first phase one of the build- irrigation. By the time all three phases are complete, Lawless is out is the completion of the western side of Lake Diefenbaker, whichconfident the provinces potato growers could double in number.was largely abandoned in the 1970s. The pre-work is coming together through the Water Security The government has been working hard the last couple of yearsAgency (WSA), a Treasury Board Crown corporation of the to put a plan in place and execute on preliminary engineering andgovernment.consultation processes to bring that project to fruition, he says.According to its director of irrigation Joel Peru, developing more The farming community in this area, the industrial and irrigationirrigable acres is part of the Saskatchewans long-term growth plan. community and just the consumers are massively in favour of thisSince 2020, 34,000 acres of irrigation has been developed, not expansion going forward. including an estimated 20,000 in 2023. Across the entire province, While theres no timeline for completion, Lawless does expect the407,000 acres are under irrigation, which includes back flood entire project to be completed before his career is over. irrigation areas, primarily in the southwest part of the province.He also believes this time will be different. With strong politicalPart one of the project on Lake Diefenbaker which is two signals to get this project off the ground, many see it as a non- separate phases will create 340,000 new irrigable acres. The third partisan issue. Lawless says its in the best interest of not onlyand final phase, the QuAppelle Valley Conveyance, will add the final Saskatchewanians, but all Canadians, to get this done. 160,000. No preliminary work has yet been done on phase three.24SPUDSMART.COMWinter 2024'