The Government of Saskatchewan announced Thursday it has awarded the next stage of planning and engineering design work for the Westside Irrigation Rehabilitation Project. This is the project that involves diverting water from Lake Diefenbaker. Prairie Engineering Partners has been chosen which is a joint venture of Stantec and MPE engineering firms.

In March, Premier Scott Moe announced the province is moving forward with constructing the early works of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Projects (LDIP). The WIRP is the first part of the overall LDIP.

The project will develop new infrastructure from Lake Diefenbaker to the Ardath-Swanson area near Conquest to create 90,000 acres of irrigated land. The government has set a goal for the engineering, design and engagement with stakeholders including Indigenous rights holders in the next year. Construction of the 90,000 acres being targeted is supposed to begin in 2025 to 2026.