Volume 12 Issue 6 June Washington State Edition

Experience and Vision 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 […]
Volume 12 Issue 6 June Arizona Edition

Sustainability and Responsibility 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 […]
Volume 12 Issue 6 June

New Zealand Excellence 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 […]
Toni Meacham: Wrangling Water Law in Washington

Toni Meacham grew up understanding the importance of water for agriculture and from an early age wanted to advocate for those who depend on it. Working in her own law practice as well as with the Washington Agricultural Legal Foundation (WALF) has allowed her to do precisely that. Ms. Meacham’s experiences as both an attorney […]
Dee Waldron: Leveling Out for Irrigation in Utah’s Weber Basin

The narrative of a small family farmer prospering after many years of hard work and sacrifice is an iconic version of the American dream. Achieving this dream requires a farmer to overcome many obstacles, both natural and manmade. Dee Waldron is someone who has lived that dream, growing up on a family farm, striving to […]
The Keith–Lincoln County Irrigation District: A Historic Small District in Western Nebraska

The Keith–Lincoln County Irrigation District (KLCID), located in western Nebraska, has been operating since the late 19th century. Aside from a headgate system installed during the 1970s, the canal system used by the KLCID today also dates back to that time. In this interview, we speak with KLCID Board President Mark McConnell about the district’s […]
Supplying Agricultural Water in Hidalgo County, Texas

The Hidalgo County Water Control and Improvement District #19 (HCWCID19) is a small water supplier located near the Rio Grande. In this interview, General Manager Oscar Gonzalez tells Irrigation Leader about its operations, the challenges of dealing with encroaching development, and the complications caused by the construction of the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. [siteorigin_widget […]
Menard County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1: Revitalizing a 280‑Year-Old Canal

Menard County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (MCWCID), located in Menard County, Texas, manages an irrigation canal that was built by the Spanish in 1756. After being temporarily dewatered in 2013, the canal has experienced major seepage issues and now requires repairs. In this interview, Meredith Allen and Caroline Runge, the current and […]
Chairwoman Amelia Flores: Advancing Irrigation and Infrastructure for the Colorado River Indian Tribes

Amelia Flores is the newly elected chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), whose reservation stretches along the border of Arizona and California. In this interview, Chairwoman Flores tells us about her responsibilities as chairwoman, CRIT’s irrigation infrastructure, and its recent proposal for federal legislation to allow it to lease its Colorado River water […]
Volume 12 Issue 5 May Arizona Edition

Introducing Chairwoman Amelia Flores By Kris Polly Amelia Flores is a longtime councilmember and public servant of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), and in 2020, she became the first woman to be elected chair of CRIT’s Tribal Council. In our cover story, Chairwoman Flores tells us about her responsibilities as chairwoman, CRIT’s irrigation […]