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 4 April
Jesus Flores was born into the agricultural world of Hidalgo County, Texas, and since 1976, he has given 50 years of service to the board of directors of the Engelman Irrigation District, having served as president, vice president, secretary, consultant, and advisor. In our interview…
Volume 17 Issue 4 April
In this month’s cover story, we interview Glen Vortherms, the general manager of the Maricopa Water District, which has been supplying water in Arizona’s West Valley since 1925. In that time, the area has undergone heavy urbanization, and today, irrigated agriculture persists…
Volume 17 Issue 4 April
In our cover story this month, we speak with Rick Scheele, the manager of the Tin Cup Irrigation District in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, which dates back to the 1880s. To conserve water, the small district is installing electronic controls and satellite monitoring systems…
Volume 17 Issue 4 April
In our cover story this month, we talk with Scott Schaneman, the general manager of the North Platte Natural Resources District (NPNRD). Overseeing an area with both groundwater and surface water resources that is home to 26 irrigation districts, NPNRD cooperates with many producers…
Volume 17 Issue 4 April
In our cover story with Norman Vigil, the chairman of the Upper Chama Soil and Water Conservation District, we hear about how his agency helps northern New Mexico producers save water and resources, protect the landscape, and preserve the agricultural economy of the area…
Volume 17 Issue 4 April
When the North Dakota company General Irrigation & Dewatering first introduced its Dyna Flo pump, it sold the pumps faster than it could manufacture them. Today, the pumps are used across the United States for flood control, dewatering, and water delivery for irrigation…
Volume 17 Issue 4 April
The Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WYSGA), Wyoming’s oldest trade association, represents what is by far the largest segment of Wyoming agriculture. In our interview with WYSGA Executive Vice President Jim Magagna, we learn about the association’s wide range of activities…
Volume 17 Issue 4 April
In our cover story this month, we speak with Casey Sixkiller, the director of the Washington State Department of Ecology, the state’s environmental protection agency. While the agency is a regulator, Mr. Sixkiller says, it depends on partnerships, including with the agricultural…
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.