2023 Newsletter
PROGRESSIVE IRRIGATION DISTRICT 2023 NEWSLETTER
2585 N Ammon Rd
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
Office Phone: 208-522-3102 Fax 208-552-9618
progressiveirrigationdistrict.com
Dear Patrons,
IT has been a wet spring and the outlook is good for our irrigation season. Always, the conservation of water is important. A hot dry spring could change everything so we continue to ask you to be efficient with your irrigation water.
The board has set April 17th as the tentative date for water to be turned into the irrigation system this year.
Idaho Code 42-907 states that a meeting should be called to appoint a lateral ditch manager when 3 or more people use the same headgate for the same lateral ditch. This is not just a suggestion; it is Idaho Law. Now would be a good time to start that process if you haven't already.
A lateral ditch manager will assess the condition of the ditch that delivers water to you from the main canal headgate. That manager will also order water and make a schedule to deliver the water fairly to those on the same ditch. If a problem or a dispute happens and a ditch manager has not been designated, it is almost impossible to solve a situation. If the ditch is not clean, he has the ability to ask for labor or money to get it ready for water. All users of the ditch are required by law to participate. Everyone who has a water right has a right to use the water and the time that is allotted to that patron depends on the number of acres to be watered. We have several lateral managers who have stood up and filled that position. A HUGE thank-you to them for their service. It is a thankless but necessary job.
The ditchrider will NEVER open your headgate. Their responsibility is to get the water to your headgate. After that, the responsibility lies with the person who opens the headgate to manage that water. The district will clean and mow and spray the main canals as needed. Please make sure there are no fences, machinery, pumps, pipes or hoses in the right-of-way along the canal banks. The district is not responsible for damage to anything in that right-of-way. The district would like to remind you that although it is not responsible for private ditches, (which is any ditch after it leaves the canal) irrigation is more efficient if you have a clean delivery system.
Idaho Code 18-4301 states that anyone who disturbs a gate or deposits rubbish, filth or obstruction to the free flow of water is guilty of a misdemeanor. This would pertain to grass clippings, dead animals, unused produce or random garbage. This law also includes dumping of pet feces. A misdemeanor charge could be as much as $1000.00 and jail time.
ORDERING WATER
There are several ways to order water. Please include the lateral ditch manager for this so that several people are not ordering for the same headgate. Orders can be placed on the Web Page www.progressiveirrigationdistrict.com. On our home page you will find an "order water" button. It is necessary to know your canal name and headgate number when you use this method. If you don't know that information, please call the office at 208-522-3102. If you call the office after hours to order water, you will be directed to pick the option to speak to a ditchrider. You can leave an order there. Also, the district has retained the water order phone line designated for water orders. That number is 208-522-5898. You will speak to a recorded line when you call that number.
DITCH RIDERS
At this time, we have two ditchriders.
MIKE LORDS: Anderson, Cook/Koster, Payne, Payne extension, Sage & Willow Creek.
KIM FOLSOM: Anderson above Ririe, Crow Creek, Riley, Sand Creek, Little Sand Creek, Ammon Extension, and Taylor Extension.
The Gardner Canal, HiIlside Canal, East Center, and West Center have not been assigned to anyone yet.
We would encourage you to go to our web page and see what new information you can find there. A link to fine your headgate can be found under "service area". You can join our email by signing onto our web page also. If a message needs to be sent to a specific canal, it will be posted on our home page in the first section . You may also pay your assessment on-line through a POS company named Access Idaho. This company charges a fee of 3% plus $1.00. We do accept cash and checks. If you have chosen to pay your assessment 1/2 at a time, Please don't forget to pay the second half before June 20, 2024.
If you have concerns, comments or questions, please call the office or a member of the Board of Directors. The Chairman is Lance Schuster: 208-521-5887 with Murland Spaulding (208-351-5690) and Ryan Steele (208-390-5765) as directors. The manager, Ray Suitter, can be reached at 208-521-1100.
All of us at Progressive Irrigation District hope you have a great and productive summer.
2585 N Ammon Rd
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
Office Phone: 208-522-3102 Fax 208-552-9618
progressiveirrigationdistrict.com
Dear Patrons,
IT has been a wet spring and the outlook is good for our irrigation season. Always, the conservation of water is important. A hot dry spring could change everything so we continue to ask you to be efficient with your irrigation water.
The board has set April 17th as the tentative date for water to be turned into the irrigation system this year.
Idaho Code 42-907 states that a meeting should be called to appoint a lateral ditch manager when 3 or more people use the same headgate for the same lateral ditch. This is not just a suggestion; it is Idaho Law. Now would be a good time to start that process if you haven't already.
A lateral ditch manager will assess the condition of the ditch that delivers water to you from the main canal headgate. That manager will also order water and make a schedule to deliver the water fairly to those on the same ditch. If a problem or a dispute happens and a ditch manager has not been designated, it is almost impossible to solve a situation. If the ditch is not clean, he has the ability to ask for labor or money to get it ready for water. All users of the ditch are required by law to participate. Everyone who has a water right has a right to use the water and the time that is allotted to that patron depends on the number of acres to be watered. We have several lateral managers who have stood up and filled that position. A HUGE thank-you to them for their service. It is a thankless but necessary job.
The ditchrider will NEVER open your headgate. Their responsibility is to get the water to your headgate. After that, the responsibility lies with the person who opens the headgate to manage that water. The district will clean and mow and spray the main canals as needed. Please make sure there are no fences, machinery, pumps, pipes or hoses in the right-of-way along the canal banks. The district is not responsible for damage to anything in that right-of-way. The district would like to remind you that although it is not responsible for private ditches, (which is any ditch after it leaves the canal) irrigation is more efficient if you have a clean delivery system.
Idaho Code 18-4301 states that anyone who disturbs a gate or deposits rubbish, filth or obstruction to the free flow of water is guilty of a misdemeanor. This would pertain to grass clippings, dead animals, unused produce or random garbage. This law also includes dumping of pet feces. A misdemeanor charge could be as much as $1000.00 and jail time.
ORDERING WATER
There are several ways to order water. Please include the lateral ditch manager for this so that several people are not ordering for the same headgate. Orders can be placed on the Web Page www.progressiveirrigationdistrict.com. On our home page you will find an "order water" button. It is necessary to know your canal name and headgate number when you use this method. If you don't know that information, please call the office at 208-522-3102. If you call the office after hours to order water, you will be directed to pick the option to speak to a ditchrider. You can leave an order there. Also, the district has retained the water order phone line designated for water orders. That number is 208-522-5898. You will speak to a recorded line when you call that number.
DITCH RIDERS
At this time, we have two ditchriders.
MIKE LORDS: Anderson, Cook/Koster, Payne, Payne extension, Sage & Willow Creek.
KIM FOLSOM: Anderson above Ririe, Crow Creek, Riley, Sand Creek, Little Sand Creek, Ammon Extension, and Taylor Extension.
The Gardner Canal, HiIlside Canal, East Center, and West Center have not been assigned to anyone yet.
We would encourage you to go to our web page and see what new information you can find there. A link to fine your headgate can be found under "service area". You can join our email by signing onto our web page also. If a message needs to be sent to a specific canal, it will be posted on our home page in the first section . You may also pay your assessment on-line through a POS company named Access Idaho. This company charges a fee of 3% plus $1.00. We do accept cash and checks. If you have chosen to pay your assessment 1/2 at a time, Please don't forget to pay the second half before June 20, 2024.
If you have concerns, comments or questions, please call the office or a member of the Board of Directors. The Chairman is Lance Schuster: 208-521-5887 with Murland Spaulding (208-351-5690) and Ryan Steele (208-390-5765) as directors. The manager, Ray Suitter, can be reached at 208-521-1100.
All of us at Progressive Irrigation District hope you have a great and productive summer.