Richard A. Lemargie
Richard A. Lemargie, 70, passed away Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at his home in Ephrata, Washington, surrounded by loved ones. Richard was born at Grand Coulee Dam, Washington, in 1947 and spent his early years in what was commonly referred to as an engineer’s town just downstream from the Grand Coulee Dam. He was raised […]
Volume 9 Issue 6 June Washington Edition 2018
The Columbia Basin Project, the Washington State Water Resources Association, and the Reclamation community lost a tremendous advocate, historian, and legal giant with the passing of Richard Lemargie. Very few people achieve the level of respect and reverence that Richard had. A few well-chosen words would clarify an issue, help define a plan, and generally […]
An Update on the Produce Safety Rule
In November 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized the Produce Safety Rule, which includes an Agricultural Water Provision (AWP) requiring that growers identify, inspect, and monitor their irrigation water supplies for indicator E. coli. Compliance for all aspects of the rule was set to begin in January 2018. However, in March 2017 […]
The Use of Federal Water for Growing Hemp
A lthough the Agricultural Act of 2014 includes provisions for the growth of industrial hemp for research purposes under state-approved programs, the use of federal water had been in question given hemp’s classification under the Controlled Substances Act. However, in late May 2018, the Bureau of Reclamation’s Montana Area Office issued the first permit for […]
Jeremy Sorensen of the Strawberry Water Users Association
The Strawberry Water Users Association (SWUA) delivers 71,000 acre-feet of water to more than 40,000 acres of orchards and alfalfa fields, as well as burgeoning communities on the southern Wasatch Front in Utah County. SWUA uses the infrastructure of the Strawberry Valley Project, the first Bureau of Reclamation project in Utah, to move water from […]
Volume 9 Issue 6 June 2018
This issue of Irrigation Leader contains articles on food safety, the use of federal water in the growing of industrial hemp, and irrigation along the U.S.-Mexican border. Jeremy Sorensen, general manager of the Strawberry Water Users Association, profiles his irrigation district, its push for title transfer, and the importance of outreach to the next […]
Providing Sealing Solutions and Support at HUESKER
Quality products and exceptional customer service are equally important parts of building a successful company. Both elements must exist to build long-term, lasting relationships with customers and cement a company’s reputation. HUESKER is a company that fully understands this concept, and it has strived to put that concept into practice since the company’s establishment in […]
Is There a New Sheriff in Town?
Imagine that water delivery entities are required to obtain permits from their local community or communities prior to diverting water into their canals. Imagine that water delivery entities and drainage districts are required to obtain permits from their local community or communities prior to removing debris impeding flows in their canals or ditches. What if […]
Tony Jantzer of Icicle and Peshastin Irrigation Districts
In August 2017, the Jack Creek Wildfire ran rampant through the Cascade Range in Washington State, leaving thousands of acres of land destroyed and impenetrable by water. Due to the lack of absorption, the Icicle and Peshastin Irrigation Districts have been taxed with accommodating the higherthan-normal-level runoff captured in Eight Mile Dam, adding stress to […]
Improving Flow Accountability at the Columbia Improvement District
The Columbia Improvement District (CID) in Boardman, Oregon, is working to maximize the capabilities of its water infrastructure with the goals of improving system efficiency and reliability to better serve district members. CID General Manager Mark Maynard has led an initiative to automate and improve efficiency throughout the CID system. The installation of McCrometer FPI […]