Massive irrigation project ready to roll

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After a decade of planning, construction is ready to roll on the massive $65-million Blood reserve irrigation project.

It's the largest non-energy related construction project of its kind ever undertaken on an Indian reserve in Canada.

The irrigation project couldn't be starting at a better time.

World grain stocks are so low a record crop is needed this year to avert a worldwide food crisis, according to Canadian Wheat Board analyst Bob Roehle.

"It's scary," he said, noting grain stocks are so low if anything other than a series of record crops occur over the next few years, high world demand could create a panic in the market that would drive prices "sky high."

Chief Roy Fox said the first contracts with privately-owned Indian construction companies have already been negotiated on the irrigation project. Work on the first phase of the 10-year project to irrigate 25,000 acres of band land should begin by mid-May at the latest, he said.

Construction of the 18-kilometer main canal from the existing Belly-St. Mary Reservoir diversion canal to the Mokowan Ridge water storage reservoir site should be complete within a year, said Fox.

Water from the main canal and new reservoir should be flowing in time for the 1993 crop year, he said. The irrigation project should triple farm production from land that had previously been leased to non-Native farmers.

By the time the entire project is complete, the affected area should be crisscrossed by a bout 50 km each of feeder canals and buried water pipelines.

The irrigated land is to be divided into 2,500-acre blocks farmed by band members, said Fox. Profits from agricultural production will pay for the Blood share of the project.

The band estimates another 6,000 acres along the main canal will also benefit from the project.

Band councilor Kirby Manyfingers said studies show the project will control soil erosion caused by wind and drought. The erosion has been devastating the 34,000-acre block of dryland known as the Big Lease.

"The soil would continue to be blown away" without the project, he said, noting 8,900 acres are already severely eroded and damaged almost beyond repair.

"Once the irrigation project is complete, we'll no longer be at the mercy of drought and wind," said Manyfingers.

The senior governments will each contribute $18.5 million towards the project. A funding agreement signed with Ottawa and the province last year includes a provision to pay the band share from agricultural profits.

"Our commitment kicks in after farm production starts," said Fox.

The irrigation project will also provide piped domestic drinking water eventually to the rest of the 350,000 acre reserve -- Canada's largest. Water is currently trucked to rural areas from Stand Off.

The project, said Fox, will give the band a solid agricultural base to replace declining revenues from dwindling natural gas fields that will be exhausted by the end of the decade.

The 5,000-member band has been told production will soon be shut down for 18 months to repair the badly corroded gas pipeline, he said. The band has depended on the fields for the bulk of its revenue the last 30 years.

Under the agreement with the governments, the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration will manage the project and provide technical assistance. The band owned St. Mary's Construction Co. is the main contractor while the Blood Tribe Agricultural Project Inc. will oversee the development.

The agreement calls for the use of band labor and contractors when possible, said Fox. A number of entrepreneurs with construction and transportation backgrounds have already formed companies and are bidding on contracts -- band members will be given preferential treatment.

The irrigation project is expected to provide a large number of spin-off economic benefits, including farm equipment sales and servicing and food processing, said Fox. It's also expected to lead to increased cattle production.

"It's up to individual bad members to take advantage of the opportunities," he said.

Construction will provide about $4 million worth of jobs on the Blood reserve. It will also create 100 new jobs after the project is complete.

A job training program sponsored by Ottawa and the band was launched last year to train Blood Indians in surveying and geo-technical jobs for the project that will provide 1,000 person-years of employment during the 10-year construction period.