- What is a Gravity Flow Irrigation System
- Water Orders
- Lateral Ditch Water User Laws
- Watermaster Info
What Is a Gravity Flow Irrigation System
A gravity flow irrigation system uses the natural force of gravity to move water from a higher elevation—such as a reservoir, pond, or tank—through canals, ditches, or pipelines downhill to irrigate farms.
Water Orders
A water order in an irrigation district is a formal request from a landowner or irrigator to receive a specific flow of water—measured in cubic feet per second (cfs).
The Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District has changed to a new Automated Water Ordering and Messaging System.
When calling your Ditch Rider you will be asked Press 1 to place a Water Order.
You will need to leave your Name, Return Phone Number, Lateral and Tap Number in your message.
Water Orders will be retrieved by the Ditch Rider in preparation for deliveries the next day.
If you are unsure about your Ditch Rider, Lateral or Tap Number please contact the office at (208) 466-7861.
Lateral Ditch Water Users Laws
A Lateral Water Users Association is when three or more parties each own land with active water rights with the same point of delivery, such parties are known as “Lateral Water Users’ Association” It is the responsibility of all water users on the association to maintain their ditches and lateral in good condition in order to preserve the flow of water.
For the Water Users’ Booklet, click here.
Calculating a Water User Rotation Schedule
A proper water user rotation schedule should be based on either the water right or the acreage of the different water users of any particular water tap. If the water right is chosen then you must make sure that all water rights allocated are equal in flow rate to each tract of land. If they are, then use the acreage to determine the proper time allotment for each tract of land. If they are not, then you must calculate each tract based on water right.
For this exercise, we shall figure allotted times based on acreage. This calculation should be done on an annual basis so as to update property ownership changes and to remind each and every water user about their share in the proper use of water.
1. Obtain an updated lateral and tap report from the irrigation district.
2. Go to the last page and obtain the totals of all acres for your water delivery. This may include one or all of the following: Ridenbaugh, Project, or other District acreages.
3. Your water user association should decide how many days should be used in the rotation of the water -what is best for the majority of the group. For this exercise, we shall use a 7 day rotation.
4. In this example, there is a total of 32.75 Project acres. In 7 days (7 days x 24 hours x 60 minutes) there are 10080 minutes. The 10080 minutes are then divided amongst the 32.75 acres. (308 minutes per acre)
5. Now you’re ready to calculate each tract of land separately. 1.9 acres x 308 (minutes per acre) = 585 minutes or 9 hours 45 minutes for this tract of land. Follow this same pattern through the rest of the water users. Always round up the partial minute to an additional minute when it is above .50 or round down if it’s under .50. The schedule must come out to a total equal to 168 hours (7×24). It’s a good idea to add the total times to check your figures.
6. The best way to assign times to your water users is to start at the head of the ditch and work your way down. That way, when it becomes your turn, the water is right next door. When the water user rotation schedule is followed closely, the water users are much more content. It leaves no room for argument. If someone chooses not to use the water for the season, the water master should be notified so that he may adjust the water season schedule accordingly.
How to Make a Water Schedule Schedule on a 7-Day Rotation
7 days x 24 hours= 168.0
Take total of miner inches for all water users and divide by total of hours (168.0)
Take the total number of hours of this figure and x by each individual water users miner inches.
Example:
7 X 24 = 168
36.21 total miner inches divided by 168 equals 22 hrs per miners inch
1.81 individual miners inches x 22 equals 39.82 hours
2.95 individual miner inches x 22 equals 64.90 hours
Watermaster Info
What is a Watermaster?
A Watermaster is in charge of the distribution of irrigation water from a main canal or lateral. Watermasters are not employees of the District; they are merely the first point of contact for Ditchriders (an employee of NMID who controls and maintains canals and ditches while delivering and fulfilling water orders). Water Users Associations must vote and appoint a Watermaster
Duties of a Watermaster
Watermasters will be the first point of contact for Ditchriders. Water orders, water scheduling, and point of delivery questions will begin with the Watermaster, Watermasters can obtain a Lateral and Tap Report from NMID, to show all water users on the system and their water rights in order to ensure proper apportioned and delivery ofwater. Ditchriders require an appointed Watermaster in order for water to be delivered to users.
Appointing a Watermaster
Water Users Associations should hold an annual meeting prior to April to vote and appoint a Watermaster for the succeeding season. If a Watermaster is not updated at the start of the irrigation season, NMID will keep the latest Watermaster information listed as the point of contact. It is important to keep contact information up to date. Contact NMID for Watermaster information forms.
Watermaster & Water User Guidelines
The most useful information for Water Master responsibilities can be found in the user’s manual for Idaho Water Laws, which can be found at legislature.idaho.gov (42-1301), here on our website, under the Customer Service tab, subsection – Forms & Resources., or by calling NMID. In the first portion of the manual is information on lateral ditch water users’ associations. It explains how the state of Idaho views these associations and how they are intended to work.