Resident warns silt from Airport Mesa blocked North Farmington Ditch; city staff investigating

Roberta Hall, a Farmington property owner, told the City Council that recent heavy rain carried silt and rocks from Airport Mesa and “completely blocked the North Farmington Ditch, our Deer Trail.”

Hall said she and neighbors — who rely on the ditch for landscape irrigation — have lost purchased ditch water and will need to use city water. “We paid for the water from the ditch, and we have now lost it because of this event, and we're going to be using city water,” she said, asking the council for “forbearance” so residents are not charged twice.

Mayor (presiding) said the city had been apprised of the situation and that staff are “looking into this to see what we can and cannot do,” noting legal constraints on where municipal assistance can be provided. City Attorney Bercow told the council the city is “trying to expedite the investigation” and that “4 or 5 staff members” had been on site to document conditions.

Hall told the council the holding pond for the North Farmington Ditch sits on private land and that the area has become a riparian, forested area that has not been maintained by the private owners. She warned that if the pond dries the adjacent woods “are going to become very dry with the coming heat” and that homes next to the woods are at increased wildfire risk.

City officials did not promise a specific remedy during the public comment period. The mayor and city attorney said staff will investigate options and constraints and return with information; no motion or formal directive with a deadline was recorded during the meeting.

The council accepted Hall’s statement and closed public comment on the item after staff confirmed an on-site response.