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Lake Fork irrigation conservation project to use county right-of-way; county staff say permits and road-department review required
Summary
A Lake Fork irrigation group presented a conservation project that would pipe an open canal and in places use county right-of-way; county staff said the public hearing was appropriate and that a county permit and road-department coordination are required.
Representatives of a proposed Lake Fork conservation irrigation project met with Valley County commissioners on June 16 to discuss a plan that would pipe an irrigation reach, conserve water and reduce maintenance needs along a nearly two-mile stretch of county road.
Project representatives said the redesign would keep more water in the creek and reduce long-term county maintenance burdens on the adjacent roadside. Several residents attended to ask about use of county right-of-way for new infrastructure and to see a map of the proposed alignment.
County roads and legal staff reviewed the presentation and told the project team the county’s interest is limited to impacts within the county right-of-way. Staff said the County requires a permit for any work in the right-of-way and that the road director would review design details and ensure the alignment is placed to avoid sensitive private yards where possible.
A county engineering staff member told the group that the work must comply with county permitting requirements and coordinate with the road department; he said the county’s role is to protect the public right-of-way and that the irrigation district has statutory authority for irrigation operations and water-rights management. No formal action was taken; staff said the project team must obtain the required county permits and coordinate the final alignment with the road director and property owners.
