Steinaker Service Canal Enclosure Project

Project Summary:  Beginning September 2022, the Uintah Water Conservancy District will be enclosing (piping) Reaches II and IIIA of the Steinaker Service Canal.  Reach I, or the southernmost 3+ miles of the canal, was piped in the fall of 2016 and spring of 2017.  Reaches II and IIIA will extend the pipeline to approximately 1300 South 1500 West, or an additional 2.82 miles.  With the ultimate goal of piping the entirely of the Steinaker Service Canal, and connecting the pipeline directly to Steinaker Dam, the current project represents a significant step and bold investment towards the Ashley Valley's future water security.  Because the Steinaker Service Canal will be operated as a hybrid system, with both open and piped sections, and because the canal's slope is extremely shallow, large diameter pipe is required to pass the needed flows.  When completed, the Steinaker Service Canal Enclosure Project - Reaches II and IIIA will be the largest diameter pressure pipe HDPE installation in the United States.  As such, specialized equipment is needed to accomplish the butt-fusion process (see video below).

Project Map:                                                                                                             Project News Stories:

                                                                                                                                              Bureau of Reclamation - Piping the Steinaker Service Canal

Funding Partners:                                                                                                               

• Utah Board of Water Resources
• Utah Department of Agriculture and Food          
• US Bureau of Reclamation
• Uintah Water Conservancy District

Design Engineer: Jordan Oyler, Bowen Collins & Associates

Project Manager: Mike Collins, Bowen Collins & Associates

Pipe Manufacturer: AGRU America

Pipe Supplier: ISCO Industries

Contractor: BHI, Project Manager - Mike Cottle

53' lengths of 78" OD DR26 HDPE pipe arrive one truck at a time from AGRU America's facility in Georgetown, South Carolina.

BHI operators unload and stockpile pipe in staging areas along the Steinaker Service Canal.

15-degree fittings will be utilized to help match the pipeline to the canal alignment.

Four fittings required at first canal bend.

The Italian-made Tecnodue fusing machine welds fittings to straight pipe.

First welds are accomplished with McElroy's Talon fusing machine.

ISCO certified technicians operate the fusing equipment.

Both styles of fusing machine welding pipe in staging area.

The existing screening structure is demolished where the new project will connect to Reach I.

Pipe trench preparations at 500 West road crossing.

Pipeline is installed and partially back-filled at beginning reaches of the project.