Highlighting western water leaders and providing a forum for irrigators and engineers to discuss solutions and technology.
making your voice heard
What we do at Irrigation Leader Magazine
Irrigation Leader is dedicated to the men and women providing water to irrigators in the 17 western states and beyond. Our interviews with irrigation district managers and personnel; supplier representatives; and leading local, state and federal government officials distill the issues of the day and offer real-world perspectives and insight.
Comprehensive online training for irrigation district and water agency professionals
Leaders Training equips your entire team with the practical skills and up-to-date knowledge needed to manage water resources effectively. Give your team the tools to succeed while saving time and resources.
Current Editions
Here are the latest editions of Irrigation Leader magazine. You can find previous months by selecting the desired edition under the Magazines tab or by visiting our archives here.
Volume 17 Issue 1 January
In this month’s cover story, we introduce our readers to Samantha Barncastle, the new executive director of the Family Farm Alliance. A dynamic leader with roots in agriculture and extensive experience as a water lawyer, Ms. Barncastle has high ambitions for what…
Volume 17 Issue 1 January
This month’s cover story features Ron Rayner, the scion of an Arizona farming family that has been active in the state since 1913 and an influential figure in advancing irrigation technology and influencing policy in the state and nationwide. Mr. Rayner served on the…
Volume 17 Issue 1 January
This month, we interview Mark LaRowe, who has served since May 2025 as the executive director of the Montana Water Resources Association, taking over from longtime officeholder Mike Murphy. Mr. LaRowe has a wide-ranging background in natural …
Volume 17 Issue 1 January
Our cover story this month introduces readers to the Nebraska Cooperative Republican Platte Enhancement Project (NCORPE), a collaborative venture of four natural resources districts aimed at maintaining compliance with the multistate Republican…
Volume 17 Issue 1 January
This month, our cover interview is with Salomon Torres, the owner of Soluciones Consulting, based in Harlingen, Texas. Why feature a Texas water professional in our New Mexico edition? Because, of course, issues on the Rio Grande are…
Volume 17 Issue 1 January
In this month’s cover story, we bring you an interview with Jackson Stansell, a young entrepreneur whose company is delivering important benefits to U.S. clients and holds great potential for New Zealand producers. Using satellite imagery, Sentinel Ag…
Volume 17 Issue 1 January
In our cover story this month, we interview a champion of irrigated agriculture well known to Washington State producers: State Senator Judy Warnick. In our conversation, she delves into her accomplishments in the legislature and the benefits of…
Volume 17 Issue 1 January
In this month’s cover story, we interview Mark Pepper, the executive director of the Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems. The association supports small, rural utilities, which make up a large proportion of Wyoming’s water suppliers, in…
Sharing The Waters
Sharing the Waters is a book written by the late Robert W. “Bob” Johnson, a career federal water management expert who rose through the ranks of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to eventually serve as its commissioner.
Commissioner Johnson’s insights remind readers that despite the seemingly unprecedented challenges confronting the Colorado River and its users today, contentious matters have always been a part of their history. Yet, he makes it clear that solutions for river and its use will never occur rapidly nor can they likely ever be permanent because as circumstances evolve, so too must the law of the river.
Sharing the Waters can be obtained by making a modest donation to the Water Education Fund.
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Jobs Board
Our website serves as a clearinghouse for requests for proposals and job listings published by water agencies and irrigation districts throughout the United States. We post jobs at no charge, in the Irrigation Leader, Hydro Leader, and Municipal Water Leader magazines and websites.