Stillwater Ditch Piping Project

Owned and operated by UYWCD, the Stillwater Ditch primarily delivers agricultural releases from Yamcolo Reservoir and Stillwater Reservoir across the Five Pines Mesa. The Stillwater Ditch serves irrigators with original water rights, shareholders of Stillwater Reservoir storage, the Yamcolo Irrigators Association, and municipal and agricultural storage contract holders from Yamcolo Reservoir.

With a capacity of 62.5 cubic feet per second (cfs), the Stillwater Ditch allows irrigators and municipalities whose diversions are not along the Bear River to contract stored water from Yamcolo Reservoir. Agricultural operations across the Five Pines Mesa depend on water deliveries through the Stillwater Ditch to enhance and extend their irrigation season beyond spring runoff each year.

In 2025, UYWCD installed approximately 1000’ of 60” pipe along with bank armouring near US Forest Service Road 910. The first phase of the project shores up critical sections of the ditch with steep slopes, reduces ongoing maintenance around an area with historic issues, and reduces ditch loss for water users across the Five Pines Mesa. 

Phase 1 Project Summary:

  • Total Cost: $845,000
  • Construction Materials: 
    • ~1000’ of 60” pipe, 5 bends, 2 Flared End Sections (FES), 2 Cleanouts
    • 58 CY of riprap
    • 3300 CY of bedding and fill material

Phase 2 of the Stillwater Ditch Piping Project is tentatively scheduled for construction in 2027 - funding pending.

The image shows several large, black pipes laid on the ground among grass and trees, with a blue sky above.
Removed existing CMP pipe sections
The image shows a construction site with a large black pipe on a dirt road, surrounded by trees and some snow.
Replaced pipe with 60 inch ADS dual wall pipe
A tracked vehicle is moving large black pipes in a forested area under a partly cloudy sky.
Brought in pipes one 20 foot section at a time
A trench in a forest with a metal pipe partially buried in dirt, surrounded by trees and rocks.
Placing flared end section
A dirt path in a forest with a large black drainage pipe partially on a dirt mound, surrounded by trees.
Staging materials
The image shows a large, black corrugated pipe being installed in a trench, with earth and machinery around it.
Placing and aligning pipe bend
A rocky, muddy area in a forest, with trees in the background and some snow on the ground, suggesting recent disturbance.
Regraded road and embankment protection
The image shows construction equipment working on a dirt trench, with a large black pipe placed in the ground among trees.
Top end of new piped section
A snow-covered ground with a metallic pipe surrounded by rocks in a wooded area. Footprints are visible in the snow.
Bottom end of new piped section
The image shows several large, black pipes laid on the ground among grass and trees, with a blue sky above.
The image shows a construction site with a large black pipe on a dirt road, surrounded by trees and some snow.
A tracked vehicle is moving large black pipes in a forested area under a partly cloudy sky.
A trench in a forest with a metal pipe partially buried in dirt, surrounded by trees and rocks.
A dirt path in a forest with a large black drainage pipe partially on a dirt mound, surrounded by trees.
The image shows a large, black corrugated pipe being installed in a trench, with earth and machinery around it.
A rocky, muddy area in a forest, with trees in the background and some snow on the ground, suggesting recent disturbance.
The image shows construction equipment working on a dirt trench, with a large black pipe placed in the ground among trees.
A snow-covered ground with a metallic pipe surrounded by rocks in a wooded area. Footprints are visible in the snow.
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