WASHINGTON—Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson highlighted the inclusion of $7,082,856 for the Mackay Dam Rehabilitation Project in Custer County, Idaho, at his request through Community Project Funding (CPF) in the Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. 

Despite claims that CPF projects are "wasteful earmarks," Community Project Funding gives Members of Congress like Congressman Simpson the opportunity to bring Idaho tax dollars back home for Idaho priorities. These projects fill a clear and present need in communities across Idaho and enjoy broad community support. The federal dollars designated for CPF projects exist within existing budget limits. Rather than that money going to fund projects in different states, CPF projects give Idahoans a critical voice in determining where budgeted funding goes.

“For nearly a century, the Mackay Dam has safeguarded downriver communities throughout Custer and Butte Counties while supporting Idaho's agricultural prosperity,” said Rep. Simpson. “However, its current condition is in dire need of repair, and the likelihood of the dam failing during a devastating flood is extremely high. I am proud to work with state and local officials to secure funding for this project, protect Idaho communities from catastrophic flooding, and ensure that overwhelming recovery costs do not burden local economies.”

“Mackay Reservoir is essential for storing and delivering water to meet the irrigation needs of the Big Lost River Basin and protecting its agricultural economy and heritage. That is why I’m very pleased to learn that the Big Lost River Irrigation District has secured sufficient state and federal funds to repair and restore the Mackay Reservoir Dam to an operating condition that will help ensure many more decades of safe use,” said Matthew Weaver, Director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

“Thank you so much for the great news regarding the funding for the Mackay Dam repairs, we here at the irrigation district are so excited and appreciative of the hard work Congressman Simpson and his staff have put in to help us receive this much needed help in repairing our dam. The Mackay Dam is essential to our valley and provides the life giving water which grows our crops and keeps our valley a green, beautiful place to live. It also provides a place of recreation and enjoyment to local residents, our fellow Idahoans, and travelers from elsewhere, we extend their appreciation also, and hope everyone working with Mr. Simpson gets a chance to come visit, along with the Congressman who is always welcomed as a friend of the Lost River Valley,” said Rich Harry, General Manager of Big Lost River Irrigation District.

This funding would be used to rehabilitate the Mackay Dam, a 100-year-old earthfill structure constructed for irrigation that currently serves 37,500 acres of farmland. The dam's infrastructure is aging and has degraded to the point of critical condition, with a high risk of failure in the event of flooding. The funding would go towards removing and replacing the primary spillway, relining the outlet tunnel, and moving controls downstream to prevent the dam from overtopping and mitigate the risk of damages from earthquakes and flooding to the surrounding communities, including Mackay, Arco, Custer, Butte, and the Idaho National Laboratory.

As Idaho’s only appropriator, Rep. Simpson has a unique opportunity to fight for Idaho’s priorities and ensure Idahoans’ hard-earned tax dollars return to Idaho.