‘Shovel ceremony’ for new West Dam rehab project

A groundbreaking ceremony was held last week for Phase 1 of the Chin Reservoir Expansion Project’s West Dam rehabilitation.

Built over 70 years ago, the St. Mary River Irrigation District says the current reservoir has a storage capacity of 154,000 acre-feet.

Once complete, it will raise the West Dam to accomodate future water levels and replace the existing irrigation outlet structure.

In a release, the District said the existing structure is nearing the end of its design life and is limited in demand and reservoir levels.