Basepoint Design Corporation will use the money awarded by the Bureau of Reclamation to perform onsite inspections of approximately 230 canals in urbanised areas throughout the western states. Aero-Metric will perform aerial inspections of canals in Arizona and Southern California.

Michael Connor, reclamation commissioner, said: “These inspections will provide important data to help ensure that canal reaches continue to provide authorised project benefits and are properly operated and maintained. These inspections will benefit existing programmes by providing a basis for determining any long-term management requirements.”