Volume 9 Issue 1 January Washington Edition 2018
Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman is exceptionally capable and well prepared for her new job. Her résumé reads like a many-years-long western water training program to be commissioner: law school and legal work in Wyoming, followed by working for renowned western water law attorney and United States senator, Jon Kyl, on Capitol Hill, […]
Reclaiming Return Flows
Irrigation districts seeking to undertake infrastructure projects often face two perennial obstacles: funding and permitting. The South Columbia Basin Irrigation District (SCBID) had to overcome those challenges when building its return flow pumping station project. The district had to balance the requirement to complete the project quickly to receive needed federal funding against the time-consuming […]
Volume 8 Issue 10 November/December Washington Edition 2017
The Central Valley of California is one the nation’s main sources of fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts. Over the last couple decades, the Central Valley has struggled with water supplies because of federal management and drought. In light of limited surface supplies, water managers in the valley have come up with creative solutions to […]
Volume 8 Issue 9 October Washington Edition 2017
Bringing century-old irrigation projects into the 21st century requires vision, strategy, and perseverance. In the October issue of Irrigation Leader, we talk to managers and innovators who help tell the story of irrigation district modernization as it works today. In our cover interview, Erling Juel, general manager of Greenfields Irrigation District in central Montana, […]
Volume 8 Issue 8 September Washington Edition 2017
In this issue’s cover interview, Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District (YTID) Manager Rick Dieker perfectly summarizes the state of many irrigation districts across the West today: “We are living off the infrastructure investments that were made over a century ago, and it is time to start working on keeping them viable for the future.” Mr. Dieker […]
Volume 8 Issue 7 July/August Washington Edition 2017
Moving water efficiently is as much about people as it is about technology. For decades, Nebraska’s irrigation districts have led the way in adopting the latest technology to store, conserve, and stretch water supplies. Those districts have also taken steps to provide the necessary training and benefits to retain and grow their employees. In […]