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 2 February
In our cover story this month, we learn about an ambitious proposal with huge potential benefits: the raising of Pine Flat Dam, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility on the Kings River in Central California. David Merritt, the general manager of…
Volume 17 Issue 2 February
In our cover story this month, we speak with a man who seems to know everything about Arizona water: Richard Morrison. Mr. Morrison’s family has long experience in Arizona agriculture and in leadership in industry associations and education, and he…
Volume 17 Issue 2 February
In our cover story this month, we interview McCall Lammerding, an elected supervisor at the Phillips Conservation District, which promotes conservation practices across about 3.3 million acres in Phillips County. By working with the community, the…
Volume 17 Issue 2 February
Our cover story this month provides an opportunity to celebrate the groundbreaking of the permanent replacement of Tunnel No. 2, a century-old irrigation tunnel linking Wyoming’s Goshen Irrigation District (GID) and Nebraska’s Gering–Fort Laramie…
Volume 17 Issue 2 February
In our cover story this month, we speak with Rick Ledbetter, a board member at the Roosevelt Soil and Water Conservation District of eastern New Mexico. He updates us on some of the district’s efforts to conserve and increase water supplies, including…
Volume 17 Issue 2 February
In our cover story this month, we are pleased to bring you a group interview with participants in the 2025 Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Tour, which brought 20 Australians and New Zealanders to Utah, Idaho, Washington State, and Oregon…
Volume 17 Issue 2 February
In 2025, the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District (ECBID) broke ground on the new Orman Johnson Pumping Plant, which forms part of the larger Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP). Its name honors Orman Johnson, a farsighted leader who…
Volume 17 Issue 2 February
Our cover story this month provides an opportunity to celebrate the groundbreaking of the permanent replacement of Tunnel No. 2, a century-old irrigation tunnel linking Wyoming’s Goshen Irrigation District (GID) and Nebraska’s Gering–Fort Laramie…
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.