Under the contract, the Native American owned company will demolish 400 feet of the concrete canal and install a new precast concrete box culvert and associated features, including a sluice gate, to replace it.

"This work is significant because it will improve the canal and update critical equipment necessary to its efficient operation," said Jim Cherry, Area Manager of Reclamation's Yuma office.

The Main Outlet Drain Extension, also known as the "bypass canal," transports drainage water from the Wellton-Mohawk Valley, 30 miles east of Yuma, to Morelos Dam, five miles west of Yuma. The canal continues on into Mexico, and terminates at the upper end of the Santa Clara Slough north of the Gulf of California.

The canal is also intended to carry reject water from the Yuma Desalting Plant to the Slough when the plant is operating.