Award of a $344,435.33 contract for irrigation construction work on the Hogback Unit of the Navajo Indian Reservation near Shiprock, New Mexico, was announced today by the Department of the Interior.
The project covers construction of 14,558 linear feet of main canal with a capacity of 180 cubic feet per second and the subjugation of approximately 1,000 acres of irrigable land. After subjugation, the land will be divided into farm units of about 100 acres each and assigned to Indian trainees who will take a course this year in irrigation farming techniques that is being given by the Navajo tribal organization.
When completed, the Hogback Unit will include 15,000 acres of irrigated land and will provide a livelihood for about 500 Navajo families. The project is now approximately 70 percent complete.
The low and successful bidder was Henry Thygesen and Company, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ten other higher bids were received ranging from $364,714 to $482,422.73.
