The Oakdale Irrigation District Board of Directors heard a presentation about the status of the district’s tunnel rehabilitation projects from Contracts/Special Projects Manager Gary Jernigan at the regular meeting on Dec. 18.

Jernigan’s PowerPoint addressed the Two-Mile Bar Tunnel and South Main Canal emergency response plan. It covered past system failures in the district, costs to repair then and translated into today’s dollars, as well as an overview of the high hazard areas specific to a 7,100-feet stretch of the South Main, which is planned to be bypassed with a tunnel.

Jernigan reported on the costs and timelines associated with planned construction versus emergency construction. Board members also discussed the impacts to farmers if there were to be failure in the system during irrigation season.

For more details see the Dec. 19 issue of The Leader.