Serving Idaho Since 1904

News Release

Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District

1503 First Street South , Nampa , Idaho 83651

Tel: (208) 466-7861 -- Fax: (208) 463-0092

Serving The Treasure Valley Since 1904

NAMPA & MERIDIAN IRRIGATION DISTRICT 

TO FILL CANALS BEGINNING MONDAY

 

For Media Information Contact:

John Anderson,  (208) 466-0663

For Immediate Release    

                                                                         

Nampa , Idaho – Mar. 26,2009                                                                   

    

                Water managers with the Treasure Valley ’s largest irrigation district will open

Boise River headgates early Monday morning (March 30) to fill more than 500 miles of

canals in the District’s system,  the Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District announced today.

                Water will be turned in to the Ridenbaugh Canal at about 3 a.m. Monday at the

District’s Boise River diversion near Barber Park . As the Ridenbaugh Canal fills, smaller

lateral canals will also begin to flow with water. It will take several days before the District's

canals are completely full of water, especially in the furthermost reaches of the system,

according to District Water Superintendent, John Anderson.

                With some carryover water from last year left in Boise River reservoirs, NMID

officials are reasonably confident 2009 will be a relatively normal irrigation year with water

supplies lasting until early fall.  Still,  Anderson says he will closely monitor snowpack runoff, 

reservoir water levels, spring precipitation levels and temperatures as the water year

unfolds.

                Last year water was turned in to the NMID system on March 31.  Typically, the

canals will carry water until about the first week of October using irrigation water stored in

Boise River system reservoirs to supplement natural river flows during the summer months.

                NMID officials also issued strong safety warnings about the danger of canals.

“Canals are inherently deadly for children and young people. The water is deep and cold

and it flows at a fast rate of speed and are almost impossible to get out of if you fall in,”

Anderson said.  District officials also caution that canals are private property so playing in a

canal or along its banks is considered trespassing under Idaho law.

                NMID delivers irrigation water to 69,000 acres of Treasure Valley land including

pressurized irrigation to approximately 15,000 residential and commercial lots including 335

residential subdivisions.  For information about the District call 466-7861.  Information is also

available on its Internet website:  www.nmid.org.

Turn In 2009