Board approves funding for North Creek Irrigation conveyance upgrades to save water

Staff recommended and the Board of Water Resources authorized financial assistance to North Creek Irrigation Company to replace failing open ditches and undersized pipe with pressurized high‑density polyethylene piping, install turnout meters and construct a 10‑acre‑foot regulating pond.

Annie (presentation name in transcript) with staff described the system as serving about 800 acres and 43 shareholders, with roughly 27,500 feet of deteriorating concrete‑lined ditches, 3,200 feet of earthen ditch and 7,500 feet of undersized pipe. She said system losses were about 45% and that piping the system would save an estimated 1,600 acre‑feet annually and increase net benefit by about $245,000 per year. The project scope spans three construction seasons and would install more than 7 miles of HDPE pipe.

Staff recommended the board authorize funding equal to 30.7% of project cost up to $1,732,000 with bonded purchase at 1% interest over approximately 27 years and annual payments of about $75,000. Board member Ibsen, who toured the system, said conditions in the field appeared worse than the presentation photos indicated and supported the project. A motion to authorize the recommended assistance was made and seconded; the board approved the motion by unanimous voice vote.

Don Johnson and Taylor Stauffer, representing the irrigation company and its engineer on the call, confirmed the presentation and answered clarifying questions about canal condition and construction sequencing. The board recorded no other action items for follow‑up beyond the bond terms and standard construction oversight.