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Teton County, Lake Creek Canal Company seek compromise over 2000 West grading
Summary
Public works and the Lake Creek Canal Company presented competing views of recent road shoulder grading along 2000 West that the canal company says encroaches on its easement. County staff proposed temporary breaks and marking to reduce repeat damage while larger alignment work is planned.
Daryl Johnson, Teton County public works director, told commissioners the county has repeatedly reshaped shoulders on 2000 West and that those routine maintenance operations are colliding with the adjacent Lake Creek Canal Company's need to keep its channel accessible. Johnson said staff had hoped to resolve the problem administratively but invited the canal company into the meeting to present its concerns.
Kari Moulton, president of the Lake Creek Canal Company, said the canal predates recent road improvements and that the company must keep the channel deep so water can flow to downstream users. "We're trying to keep a deep canal, keep it channelized," Moulton said, explaining why the company builds up the canal bank rather than feathering material back toward the road.
Deputy water master Nick Olson told the board that Idaho law gives priority to irrigation right-of-way in many instances and warned that repeated encroachment could put the county in a legally vulnerable position if work prevents canal operators from using necessary equipment. Olson said canal maintenance typically requires 16 to 18 feet of working room to operate crews and equipment safely.
County and canal representatives discussed compromises including placing "breaks" in the graded shoulder so water does not continuously pond on the road edge, adding visible markers before grading so plow operators avoid soft berms, and exploring longer-term steps such as migrating the road to the east when funding allows. Johnson said temporary measures could be implemented quickly and called for a joint plan that the canal company and county maintenance crews can follow.
The commissioners did not take formal action beyond directing staff to work with the canal company and return with an implementation plan. Staff said the short-term fixes would reduce the recurring conflict this irrigation season while a long-range alignment change remains a multi-year, budgeted effort.
