Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act to address the repair and rehabilitate of urban canals.
The Urban Canal Modernization Act would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide communities with a 35 percent non-reimbursable cost share to help repair and rehabilitate “urban canals of concern” in urban areas where significant property damage or loss of life could result if the canals failed.
An “urban canals of concern” is defined as a canal that, if it failed, would have an estimated at-risk population of more than 100 people and cause property damage of more than $5 million.
Bureau of Reclamation area offices would be responsible for determining and classifying urban canal reach.
“We must address urban canal repairs to protect Idahoans’ and westerners’ way of life,” said U.S. Rep. Simpson Mike Simpson (R-ID), who introduced the bill. “The substantial urban growth around irrigation canals has created challenges and poses a threat to communities nearby. It’s well past time we act on these concerns. This legislation does just that by maintaining safety, expanding accessibility, and providing additional tools to ensure these crucial repairs get completed.”
The bill has the support of U.S. Reps. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA).