Belle fourche irrigation district, located in newell, south dakota, will convert approximately 3,480 feet of the open earthen anderson lateral to a piped system, including new turnouts and valves

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded Belle Fourche Irrigation District a $175,085.37 Project Grant on August 5, 2025, under the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) program (CFDA 15.507) to convert approximately 3,480 feet of the open earthen Anderson Lateral to a closed piped system. The project, scheduled for completion by March 31, 2027, includes installation of new turnouts and valves to enhance water conveyance efficiency and reliability. This infrastructure modernization will reduce water losses from seepage and evaporation while enabling future on-farm improvements for agricultural producers in the Newell, South Dakota service area.

The Anderson Lateral upgrade is part of Belle Fourche Irrigation District's strategic priority list for lateral improvements and aligns with WaterSMART's core objectives of water conservation and sustainability. The conversion from open earthen canal to piped infrastructure represents a standard water efficiency improvement funded through the program's competitive, cost-shared grant process, which provides financial assistance to water management entities across western United States jurisdictions for projects demonstrating measurable conservation and operational benefits.

This project will advance water conveyance efficiency and reliability, saving water and enabling future on-farm improvements. The project is identified on the belle fourche irrigation districts priority list of laterals for improvement.