WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo (both R-Idaho) applauded Senate passage of the Urban Canal Modernization Act, which would allow Bureau of Reclamation aging infrastructure funding to help address repairs for urban canals with extraordinary maintenance issues. Many western canals, like the New York Canal in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, have gone from being rural in nature to surrounded by urban infrastructure over time. 

“Maintaining urban canals is critical to protect our communities and way of life in the West,” said Risch. “I’m pleased to see the Senate pass my Urban Canal Modernization Act, which is a commonsense fix to allow for much needed infrastructure repairs.”

“The aging of urban canals could pose serious threats to adjacent communities,”said Crapo. “Providing resources to local canal managers will protect the growing residential and business area along the New York Canal in Boise.”

In addition to Risch and Crapo, the Urban Canal Modernization Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

The New York Canal in Idaho, which conveys water from the Boise River 41 miles to Lake Lowell, was once surrounded by farmland. Today, it’s located amid one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. Converted agricultural land is common across the West, but poses challenges in regards to infrastructure updates. The New York Canal, like many urban canals, provides important agricultural and municipal uses, but also has extraordinary maintenance that comes at a much higher risk being surrounded by homes and businesses than the rural landscape that was primarily present when the canals were constructed.

These canals currently do not have easy access to funding to make these repairs as a result of their urban surroundings. The Urban Canal Modernization Act would fix this by allowing Reclamation funding to be used for certain urban canal maintenance issues.