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
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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 16 Issue 10 Nov/Dec
On our cover this month, we feature Natasha Rankin, the CEO of the Irrigation Association (IA). Ahead of the IA’s Irrigation Show event in December, Ms. Rankin tells us about the organization’s many activities across domains such as training and certification, …
Volume 16 Issue 10 Nov/Dec
In this month’s cover story, we have the pleasure of interviewing Congressman Andy Biggs, who represents Arizona’s Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Biggs speaks about the importance…
Volume 16 Issue 10 Nov/Dec
In this month’s cover story, we interview Julie Merritt, a water resource specialist with WGM Group, a Montana-based engineering, planning, and design firm. We dive deep into the unique and complex world of Montana water rights and hear…
Volume 16 Issue 10 Nov/Dec
n order to better protect water quality and quantity and strengthen long-term resource management, the State of Nebraska has made the bold move of merging two existing departments, the Department of Environment and Energy and the…
Volume 16 Issue 10 Nov/Dec
Irrigated farmers are often wary of programs to permanently halt irrigation on areas of land, especially when agriculture is seen as the enemy of a healthy environment. That is why the Ogallala Land and…
Volume 16 Issue 10 Nov/Dec
This month, we interview Murray Isbister, a farmer and the manager of Fraser Farm, a working sheep operation attached to the storied Waitaki Boys’ High School. Having a farm on campus affords the students a hands-on education in primary…
Volume 16 Issue 10 Nov/Dec
The Royal Family Farming operation in central Washington sells everything from tree fruit, beef, and milk to honey and skin-care products. And it does so with some of the most advanced regenerative…
Volume 16 Issue 10 Nov/Dec
Derek Jackson is a fourth-generation farmer in southeastern Wyoming and the president of the Wyoming Wheat Growers Association. In our cover interview this month, Mr. Jackson tells us about …
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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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.