Teton Mountain Range

Technical Resources

SAND MESA GRAVITY IRRIGATION PIPELINE

Fremont County, Wyoming

The Sand Mesa Irrigation Pipeline is a gravity pressured pipeline system comprised of approximately 43,400 feet of mainline and 30,900 feet of lateral pipeline. This pipeline replaces approximately 9 miles of the Wyoming Canal and the Badger Lateral in the Midvale Irrigation District in Fremont County, Wyoming. This pipeline provides the water to about 5000 acres. Most of this area is irrigated with center pivot sprinklers. The Natural Resources Conservation Service entered into an agreement with the Midvale Irrigation District for the design of the pipeline in the fall of 1994. The plans for the pipeline were completed in October 1995 with construction starting in the fall of 1996. The project was completed in time for the irrigation season in 1999. The Sand Mesa Pipeline had been identified in previous studies by the Bureau of Reclamation of having the best potential to expand the useable water supply for the Midvale Irrigation District.

The construction of the Sand Mesa Irrigation Pipeline was done by the Midvale Irrigation District with their equipment and personnel. The total cost of the project was about $6,000,000. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provided the initial layout for the pipeline and inlet structure. They also provided over-sight and consultation during the construction phase of project.

Photographs During Construction

42"Concrete Pipe
Installation
Concrete Mainline Layout
Lynn Cornia, State
Irrigation Engineer, Inspecting

Inlet Structure
Don Kessler,
IWM Specialist
PVC Pipeline Installation

Construction of Cutoff
Wall for Check Structure
Concrete Pour in Cutoff
Wall for Check Structure
Reinforcing Steel in
Floor of Inlet Structure

Forms on Walls of
Inlet Structure
Pressure Reducing
Station
Close up of Pressure
Reducing Valve

36" PVC Pipe w/12"
Dia. Butterfly Valve
for on Farm Turnout
36" PVC Pipe Bend
36"-30" PVC Reducer
With 30"-Dia. Inline
Butterfly Valve

Photographs After Construction
Mark Opitz, NRCS Engineer and Midvale Irrigation District Inspecting Completed Structure	Inlet structure. Looking upstream.	Trash rack to inlet structure.
Inlet structure. Water flowing over screening device.	Screening structure in operation during initial filling of pipeline