Special Issue Happy 70th Birthday, Commissioner Johnson!
By Kris Polly Commissioner, we wish you a very happy 70th birthday! Enclosed are well wishes from some of the many people you have worked with and helped over the years in so many important ways. All are proud to be your friend and grateful for what you have done for them. Serving as your deputy commissioner afforded me the opportunity to see you interact with people in countless meetings on numerous issues. The experience was like a boot camp training course on how to be a proper manager of people; how to be an effective problem solver; and, most importantly, how to treat others at all levels of the…
Volume 12 Issue 6 June Washington State Edition Roger Sonnichsen of the Quincy– Columbia Basin Irrigation District
By Kris Polly In this month’s Washington State edition, we speak with Roger Sonnichsen, the general manager of the Quincy– Columbia Basin Irrigation District (QCBID). Mr. Sonnichsen’s professional experience spans working for the state government, for Reclamation, and as a consultant for water resources planning, all of which has built his thorough knowledge and skill set. By constantly improving QCBID’s infrastructure, cultivating great employees, and carefully planning for years ahead, Mr. Sonnichsen is building the district’s future. This month, we also look at New Zealand irrigation, which is known for innovation and adaptation. Vanessa Winning, who has been CEO of the industry organization Irrigation New Zealand since October 2020, tells…
Volume 12 Issue 6 June Arizona Edition Sandy Fabritz: Bringing Communities Together for Water at Freeport- McMoRan
By Kris Polly Freeport-McMoRan, based in Phoenix, Arizona, is a global leader in mining and operates some of the largest mines in Arizona and across the nation. In addition to being a business leader, Freeport-McMoRan lends careful attention to its operations’ effects on the environment, water resources, and local communities. In this month’s cover interview, Freeport-McMoRan’s director of water strategy, Sandy Fabritz, talks with us about the company’s impressive sustainability efforts. This month, we also look at New Zealand irrigation, which is known for innovation and adaptation. Vanessa Winning, who has been CEO of the industry organization Irrigation New Zealand since October 2020, tells us about the importance of understanding…
Volume 12 Issue 6 June Vanessa Winning of Irrigation New Zealand: Bringing a Holistic Perspective to Irrigated Agriculture
By Kris Polly New Zealanders are money smart and are willing to embrace advantageous new ideas. This makes New Zealand both a source of new technology for the world and an attractive market for businesses in the United States and elsewhere. In our cover interview this month, Vanessa Winning, who has been CEO of the industry organization Irrigation New Zealand since October 2020, tells us about the importance of understanding irrigation as something that supports entire communities. We also speak with Craig Evans of the Morven Glenavy Ikawai Irrigation Scheme (MGI), headquartered in Glenavy, New Zealand, and Emrgy Australasia Sales Manager Sheridan Douglas about MGI’s pilot installation of Emrgy hydroturbines,…
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers: Representing Eastern Washington on the Energy and Commerce Committee
Advocating for the interests of eastern Washington water and hydropower users has been a priority for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers since she was elected to represent the state’s 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004. In January 2021, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers was chosen to serve as ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over many issues and agencies relating to water resources. As ranking member, she will lead the committee’s Republican members in pursuit of their legislative and oversight priorities. In this interview, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers spoke with Tom Myrum, executive director of the Washington State Water Resources Association (WSWRA), about her…
Speaker Rusty Bowers on Prospects for Water Management in Arizona
Russell “Rusty” Bowers has been the speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives since 2017. He also previously served in the Arizona Senate from 1997 to 2001 and in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1993 to 1997. In this interview with Irrigation Leader, Speaker Bowers tell us about water management in Arizona, the importance of finding new supplies for the growing Southwest, and the legislation he hopes moves forward this year.
Irrigated Agriculture in Russia and Ukraine
Bob Wietharn is the inventor and manufacturer of the Riverscreen, an innovative floating screen that can pump and filter out debris from running water as shallow as 4 inches. In August 2019, Mr. Wietharn traveled to Russia and Ukraine, where he visited Riverscreen customers and dealers and visited a number of farms. In this interview, Mr. Wietharn shares with Irrigation Leader his impressions of Russia and Ukraine, including details about farming, irrigation, and equipment.
The Impressive Product Line of Hose Solutions, Inc.
Hose Solutions, Inc., (HSI) provides specialized hoses designed to move water, wastewater, concrete slurries, fuels, and other liquids. Its products are durable, flexible, and noncorrosive, providing an alternative to rigid pipes made of traditional materials like steel or PVC. In this interview, Jim Lowry, HSI’s business development and operations manager, tells us about the distinctive qualities and advantages that make HSI’s products attractive to customers from Alaska to Antarctica.
Kevin Polak: The Designer Behind the NuCONTAINER
Kevin Polak brings over 35 years of experience in design and manufacturing to his position as mechanical design engineer at NuSTREEM. One of his triumphs has been the design of the NuCONTAINER, a modular powerhouse that fits one, two, or three turbines into a standard shipping container for ease of installation, transportation, and repair. In this interview, Mr. Polak tells Irrigation Leader about his background and his work at NuSTREEM.
NuSTREEM’s Portable, Flexible Turbine Container Design
NuSTREEM is a manufacturer of proven, modular small hydro installations that are suitable for irrigation districts or other water conveyance operators. To make its turbines more portable and easier to install, it has developed the NuCONTAINER, an integrated, modular package in which multiple turbines are transported and can be installed in a standard-size shipping container. In this interview, NuSTREEM General Manager Juliann Blanford tells Irrigation Leader about the advantages of this novel design.
