THE LAKE Diefenbaker Irrigation Projects will take roughly 10 years to build out and will provide generational benefits that are expected to transform the future of Saskatchewan. In addition to the impact of thousands of construction jobs, the projects will have a lasting effect on the province’s agricultural economy and long-term food security. Reliable moisture will unlock tremendous potential for agriculture and businesses in Saskatchewan. Irrigation supports the growth of diverse, high-value crops and increases employment, business attraction, investment, and value-added processing.

This project is the continuation of the vision that first created Lake Diefenbaker. In addition to completing and opening the existing Westside Irrigation Project, the Qu’Appelle South Water Conveyance Project will expand the reach and result in a completely new canal system extending all the way to Buffalo Pound Lake to serve the areas of Tugaske, Eyebrow, and Marquis. In addition to its key role in global food security, irrigation also improves climate change resiliency. Lake Diefenbaker offers a large, sustainable supply of good quality fresh water. When the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Projects are completed, that water will provide more than 500,000 acres of agricultural land in southern and central Saskatchewan, and is estimated to help increase Saskatchewan’s gross domestic product between $40 billion to $80 billion over the next 50 years. The project is still in the pre-construction phase that includes consultations, surveying, and engineering work.