Before the start of the 2022 irrigation season, the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District expects to install automated gates on the Courtland Canal between the Republican River diversion dam west of Guide Rock and Lovewell Lake.

There currently are 12 large radial gates serving a 35-mile stretch of canal that are operated manually.

The Belleville Telescope reported last week that once the canal is entirely automated, the headgates at the diversion dam will automatically adjust to the available river flow every few minutes to ensure no water is lost.

As the headgates adjust, they will communicate with the remaining gates along the entire canal. Those gates will then adjust to flow fluctuations around the clock. As originally designed, irrigation district employees known as ditch riders, had to drive along the canal and manually adjust the gates. Often surplus water was allowed to flow back into the river.

The upgrade has a $1.6 million dollar price tag.