The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency has announced significant funding for irrigation projects this year.

The Water Security Agency has launched the initial funding for the ten year, $4-billion Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Expansion Project.

Communiciations manager Ron Podbielski says this years budget includes $18.9-million for the Westside Irrigation Project, phase one of the multi-year multi-billion dollar Lake Diefenbaker project.

The irrigation project is expected to take a decade and double the amount of land for irrigation to 500,000 acres.

The Lake Diefenbaker initiative is the largest infrastructure project in Saskatchewan history.

The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency operates 72 dams, 130 conveyance channels, and regulates hundreds of waterworks and wastewater projects across the province.