By Shaun McKinnon
The Arizona Republic
SACATON – Workers scramble down an earthen section of the Southside Canal on the edge of the Gila River Reservation, smoothing a fresh concrete panel and readying the next segment for lining, a process that will save millions of gallons of water that once was lost to seepage.
The flow of water, halted temporarily to allow construction, will resume in two weeks and much work remains. David DeJong, director of the community’s irrigation project, checks what has been done, then moves on to another site near the far end of the channel. Timing is critical to ensure water for winter crops.
“For a long time, we were doing one project a year and a lot of people were saying, ‘Oh, it’ll never happen, it’ll never get built,’ ” DeJong said. “Then we built a new canal segment along the highway, and suddenly people could see the work. Now they’re clamoring for water.”
