Irrigation Leader Washington Edition April 2018 by Water Strategies

Volume 9 Issue 4 Washington State Edition

April 2018

The renegotiation of the Columbia River Treaty is critical to irrigators in the Columbia River basin. The Greater Wenatchee Irrigation District supports efforts to ensure that the interests of farmers who rely on water from the Columbia River to grow crops in arid central Washington have a seat at the table and maintain their water rights.

Greater Wenatchee IRRIGATION DISTRICT Delivering Columbia River water to bring quality fruits and vegetables to the world at low cost thanks to clean, affordable hydropower. (509) 884-4042 • gwid.org • office@gwid.org •

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IRRIGATION LEADER

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CONTENTS APRIL 2018 Volume 9, Issue 4

The Australia Issue Washington State Edition 7 The Unflappable Australians By Kris Polly 8 A Case Study in Extending Canal Life at the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District 14 Impressions of Australia

DISTRICT PROFILE 20 Coleambally Irrigation 26 Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District 32 Murrumbidgee Irrigation 38 Irrigation Challenges in Australia 44 Classifieds

IN MEMORIAM 47 Dave Koland

Irrigation Leader is published 10 times a year with combined issues for July/August and November/December by Water Strategies LLC 4 E Street SE Washington, DC 20003 STAFF: Kris Polly, Editor-in-Chief John Crotty, Senior Writer Tyler Young, Writer Julia Terbrock, Graphic Designer Capital Copyediting LLC, Copyeditor SUBMISSIONS: Irrigation Leader welcomes manuscript, photography, and art submissions. However, the right to edit or deny publishing submissions is reserved. Submissions are returned only upon request. For more information, please contact John Crotty at (202) 698-0690 or John.Crotty@waterstrategies.com. ADVERTISING: Irrigation Leader accepts one-quarter, half-page, and full-page ads. For more information on rates and placement, please contact Kris Polly at (703) 517-3962 or Irrigation.Leader@waterstrategies.com. CIRCULATION: Irrigation Leader is distributed to irrigation district managers and boards of directors in the 17 western states, Bureau of Reclamation officials, members of Congress and committee staff, and advertising sponsors. For address corrections or additions, please contact our office at Irrigation.Leader@waterstrategies.com. Copyright ÂŠ 2018 Water Strategies LLC. Irrigation Leader relies on the excellent contributions of a variety of natural resources professionals who provide content for the magazine. However, the views and opinions expressed by these contributors are solely those of the original contributor and do not necessarily represent or reflect the policies or positions of Irrigation Leader magazine, its editors, or Water Strategies LLC. The acceptance and use of advertisements in Irrigation Leader do not constitute a representation or warranty by Water Strategies LLC or Irrigation Leader magazine regarding the products, services, claims, or companies advertised. @IrrigationLeadr

COVER PHOTO: Photo by Kris Polly.

IRRIGATION LEADER

PHOTO COURTESY OF KRIS POLLY.

/IrrigationLeader

The Unflappable Australians

his issue of Irrigation Leader magazine is dedicated to our third international Irrigation Education Tour and our second trip to Australia. Many thanks are due to the wonderful participants who took time from their professional lives to join us and to our sponsors, Rubicon, Alligare, and International Water Screens, for making the tour possible. This was my second trip to Australia and while I have not met and spoken with every Australian, I have met and spoken with a substantial number. All the Australians I have had a conversation with have a wonderful can-do attitude that is completely devoid of any negativity. Australians are not complainers. They will undergo some unfortunate event or bit of bad luck and immediately turn it into a humorous story. It seems to be an ongoing national competition to make each other laugh. Tony Oakes, one of the founders of Rubicon and simply a brilliant individual, told the story about how a rental car once broke down on him and left him marooned for 6 or 7 hours somewhere in the New Zealand countryside. Rather than express any kind of frustration with the rental car company for its rather slow response to rescue him, he told his story by saying, “Thanks to the rental car company, I got to spend a lovely afternoon and evening enjoying the New Zealand countryside with my carked-it [broken-down] rental while I waited for a tow truck.” While touring Goulburn-Murray Water, we met Gay Jackson, who is the water delivery systems control for the district. Gay mentioned that she lives in the country and has a 2-hour drive to get to work every day. That is a substantial commute. When I asked her whether the drive bothered her, she seemed a bit surprised at the question and said, “I love my job and I love

By Kris Polly

where I live, so I don’t mind the drive at all.” She then told the very best story. Sometimes during her early morning drive, she will come across a koala bear sitting in the middle of the road. “That koala will just sit there staring into my headlights, so I have to get out of my car and shoo him off the road.” She really laughed when she told her story and promised to send me a photo the next time it happened. I didn’t have to wait long. When Australia had its millennium drought, beginning in the late ‘90s and throughout most of the 2000s, the country did not buckle or expect other people or another country to solve its problems, it figured it out for itself. Rubicon played a huge role in saving agriculture in Australia. Koala up in a tree. Rubicon worked the problem and developed technology that transforms traditional irrigation delivery canals into an electronically connected water storage system. The result is improved water delivery time for farmers and a constantly full canal that doesn’t waste a drop. We hope you enjoy this issue of Irrigation Leader and learning a bit more about Australia. Go there if you can and consider joining us on our Irrigation Education Tour next year to Chile. Thank you for your continued support of Irrigation Leader magazine. IL Kris Polly is editor-in-chief of Irrigation Leader magazine and president of Water Strategies LLC, a government relations firm he began in February 2009 for the purpose of representing and guiding water, power, and agricultural entities in their dealings with Congress, the Bureau of Reclamation, and other federal government agencies. He may be contacted at Kris.Polly@waterstrategies.com.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GAY JACKSON AND FLICKR.

in s u n i o J

February 2019 Chile is one of the top 10 global agricultural exporters with a wide range of agricultural products. Of the 39 million acres devoted to agriculture in Chile, nearly 7 percent is irrigated. If you are interested in participating in our Irrigation Education Tour to Chile or sponsoring the tour, please contact Kris Polly at Kris.Polly@waterstrategies.com.

IRRIGATION LEADER

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IRRIGATION LEADER

A Case Study in Extending Canal Life at the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District

With water being a vital component of agricultural life in the Columbia basin, the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District (QCBID) has lined its canals to help minimize water loss and deliver water to the farmlands that need it. By Joshua Venters

Completed canal repair.

IRRIGATION LEADER

District Background QCBID is one of three irrigation districts operating the Columbia Basin Project, which brings water resources to the Columbia basin. In 1902, Congress passed the Reclamation Act, which authorized the construction of irrigation storage and delivery systems, including projects for the Columbia basin region. President Franklin Roosevelt set the Columbia Basin Project in motion with the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, which began in 1933. A railroad was built to move materials and workers to the building site. Congress then authorized the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project in 1943, and the first water deliveries started in 1948. Today, because of canal expansions and additional pumping plants, the number of irrigated acres is over 680,000 in the Columbia basin. In addition, the Columbia Basin Project provides power for millions of homes, controls flooding in the lower Columbia region, creates habitat for endangered species, and provides the public with areas of recreation. In 2009, QCBID entered into a coordinated water conservation plan with the East and South Columbia Basin Irrigation Districts and the Washington State Department of Ecology to conserve water and alleviate canal capacity. QCBID has since undertaken a canal-lining program to save water and reduce seepage. As part of that program, this past winter QCBID undertook a 2-mile lining project. The Challenge Repairing QCBID canals is a tricky operation, because work must be completed in a short time frame: from when the water is shut off in mid-October to when the water needs to be turned back on in early spring. In addition, winter snow and rain make it difficult to schedule access to the site and the installation of concrete. The Liner Intertape Polymer Group (IPG) manufactured the geomembrane composite liner, the Armorpad 3NWLD, which was fitted to the exact dimensions of the canal. The Armorpad 3NWLD is a thermally bonded, multilayer system of material composed of a scrim bonded with impermeable coatings, which in turn are bonded with nonwoven material on the outside. In the case of this project for QCBID, the nonwoven component also acts as a bonding surface for the concrete, which was applied directly onto the composite. The Repair In November 2016, QCBID began the canal repair with the reshaping of the canal. IPG delivered the liner to the site in 40-foot-wide, 300-foot-long rolls. The rolls were cut with enough slack to be buried in the anchor trench. Halme Construction of Spokane, Washington, installed the geomembrane.

Rollout of 300 feet of liner.

IRRIGATION LEADER

So far, the QCBID has lined more than 6 miles of rehabilitated canals with an estimated water savings of more than 3,860 acre-feet. First, Halme placed one side into an anchor trench on the edge of the canal and rolled the entire 300 feet of ArmorPad 3NWLD out, backfilling with a small amount of soil to hold the liner in place and protect it from wind. Next, the workers pulled the other side across the bottom of the canal and placed it in an adjacent anchor trench. On some of the corners that approached 90 degrees, Halme left enough slack material to make a cut and fold it over. Halme overlapped the panels of liner by 1 foot, and each overlap was shingled downstreamâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a common oversight when placing liners in canals. The next step involved connecting each seam of the large panels together with an adhesive that provides an extreme bond to the composite liner. For this task, IPG loaned Halme a hot melt adhesive unit that heats the adhesive, pumps it through a nozzle, and delivers three beads. Halme workers made two or three passes on each seam. For the final step, Halme applied 4 inches of concrete directly over the top of the ArmorPad 3NWLD without damaging the liner. Halme built a concrete buggy, which allowed it to install the concrete quicker than doing it manually. The concrete mixers pulled up to the buggy and dumped their concrete. As the concrete was fed down into the canal, the buggy moved along with a single-track hoe. QCBID finished canal repair in March 2017, prior to the start of irrigation season. The Results The entire operation was completed ahead of schedule and is now helping to save water throughout the Columbia basin. So far, the QCBID has lined more than 6 miles of rehabilitated canals with an estimated water savings of more than 3,860 acre-feet. IL

Joshua Venters, PG, is the new business development manager for research and design at Intertape Polymer Group. You can reach him at jventers@itape.com. For more information on this project and the IPG ArmorPad, visit www.itape.com. IRRIGATION LEADER

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Impressions of

AUSTRALIA TOUR PARTICIPANTS Dave Blodget, western aquatics manager, alligare Dale Cramer,

board president, frenchmancambridge irrigation district

Stuart Crane, engineer, yakama nation Gary Esslinger, treasurermanager, elephant butte irrigation district

Darvin Fales, secretarymanager, quincy-columbia basin irrigation district

Kathy Fales Robert Faubion, board president, elephant butte irrigation district

Mark Gardner, chief financial officer, alligare Chris Gargan, international water screens

Ian Lyle, executive vice president, national water resources association

Tony Oakes, rubicon water Damien Pearson, rubicon water

Kris Polly, irrigation leader magazine

Roger Sonnichsen, assistant manager, quincy-columbia basin irrigation district

Duane Vorderstrasse, board secretary/treasurer, frenchman-cambridge irrigation district

Jim Wood, imperial valley conservation research center

Ben Woodard, assistant engineering manager, kennewick irrigation district

Cheryl Zittle,

senior director, water services, salt river project

Thomas Zittle

rom February 17 to February 22, 2018, Irrigation Leader magazine, Rubicon Water, International Water Screens, and Alligare sponsored the third annual Irrigation Leader Magazine Irrigation Education Tour. This year, the tour returned to Victoria and New South Wales, Australia, to visit Coleambally Irrigation, Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District, and Murrumbidgee Irrigation. Stops on the tour included the Great Ocean Road, the Rubicon Water factory, a low-energy pipeline installation, a dairy farm, and an irrigation demonstration farm. The tour highlighted how the latest in water delivery technology addresses the challenges of moving water and growing crops down under. The following participants shared their impressions of the tour and Australia. Ben Woodard, kennewick irrigation district It was amazing to see the canal

Coleambally Irrigation in New South Wales, Australia.

automation and modernization of Australian irrigation districts, made possible by Rubicon’s control gates in conjunction with the flat terrain and canal systems. The Rubicon factory tour allowed us to learn more about the control gates and how they are assembled. Rubicon’s staff was very friendly and welcoming and provided useful insights about their gates. When talking about irrigation water rights or entitlements, many of the Aussies referred to them as “liquid gold.” I was impressed with their proactive mentality in dealing with the issues surrounding irrigation and farming. I thought it was unique how they have unbundled the water rights or entitlement from the land, allowing the water to be owned separately from the land. The open-market system in which additional water can be traded or purchased on an as-needed basis appears to allow for greater flexibility and opportunities for irrigators. IRRIGATION LEADER

Stuart Crane.

Roger Sonnichsen.

"When talking about irrigation water rights or entitlements, many of the Aussies referred to them as 'liquid gold.' I was impressed with their proactive mentality in dealing with the issues surrounding irrigation and farming." —BEN WOODARD Kathy and Darvin Fales.

Darvin Fales, quincy-columbia basin irrigation district, and Kathy Fales Our time touring Australia, although it was short, was an awesome experience. The majority of Australia’s population lives along the continent’s coastal shoreline. On one of the first days there, we drove the scenic coastal highway. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful drive with spectacular views. Then we headed north toward the outback and visited four irrigation districts to learn about their challenges and their successes. Over a million acres are under irrigation in the region that we toured. The area is semiarid, only receiving 10 to 15 inches of rainfall annually. The main crops grown are grains and vegetables, with some fruit and wine grapes (home of Yellow Tail wine!). Their watersheds are not huge and they lay many miles to the east of the irrigable ground. Water allotments are determined based on the spring forecast of snowpack. Some years, the allotment is as low as 10 inches per acre, meaning farmers have to either purchase additional water at a much higher price if it is even available or supplement with groundwater. Conservation is paramount, and they have invested tens and maybe even hundreds of millions of dollars modernizing their irrigation systems to reach peak efficiencies. The area was flat as a pancake with hardly ever a mountain in sight. The people were friendly and always willing to talk to an American tourist. Our final day found IRRIGATION LEADER

Ben Woodard.

us on a tour boat in Sydney Harbor. It was warm and sunny, and we enjoyed it even more thinking of the freezing temperatures back home. Overall, our time in Australia was enjoyable, educational, and relaxing. Roger Sonnichsen, quincy-columbia basin irrigation district Australia has water supply issues. It has taken significant steps politically and technologically to make better use of a limited resource. The open-channel automation implementation by the larger irrigation districts has been a large component of their success. I greatly benefited from seeing these systems and technology in person during the tour. I was impressed by the amount of financial resources the federal and state governments have committed toward improving technology and the amount of water that has resulted for the benefit of agricultural, industrial, municipal, and environmental needs. It’s an example of how using the financial resources of the many and working together can benefit the country as a whole. The Australians were great hosts. The flat whites and lamingtons were the best—that’s coffee with cream and a traditional Australian cake covered in chocolate and coconut. Stuart Crane, yakama nation Melbourne and Sydney are beautiful, active, and visitor-friendly cities that were highlights of this trip

as were the tour participants that I was privileged to meet and tour with! Australia is certainly unique in its water rights administration and water trading practices. Water shortages and the flat topography have forced the development of advanced automation technology to increase the efficiency of irrigation water delivery and on-farm irrigation practices. The interactions we had with the irrigation community, including elected officials, irrigation district staff, and farmers, were certainly informative, cooperative, and cordial. I would like to give a special thanks to Tony Oakes and Damien Pearson, our Australian tour hosts and sponsors, for their outstanding effort in putting together and leading this excellent tour, as well as Irrigation Leader magazine and the other sponsors who made this tour a great success. Robert Faubion, elephant butte irrigation district

Water Strategies, working closely with Rubicon, irrigation districts, and other irrigation-related companies, put together

a truly interesting educational tour this past February. The hospitality of our Australian hosts was typical Aussie, which means outstanding! This type of tour is really a must for irrigation leaders from the United States. This trip gave us a first-hand opportunity to see new irrigation equipment and strategies being implemented in the field. Tony Oakes from Rubicon was a wonderful tour guide, and his interaction with our driver, Tim, made for quite the comedy routine. Our interaction with numerous farmers from each of the areas we toured gave me a wonderful insight on the challenges of each of the regions we toured. The tours of the irrigation schemes, or districts, and their use of automated water control structures, canal lining, scheduling, and other strategies to greatly improve deliver efficiency, was amazing. A special thanks to Kris Polly from Water Strategies, Tony Oakes from Rubicon, the irrigation districts, and the irrigation-related companies that made this tour such an outstanding experience.

Goulburn Weir, located on the Goulburn River 5 miles north of Nagambie, was built between 1887 and 1891 and refurbished in the 1980s. The weir raises the level of the Goulburn River so water can be diverted by gravity to the Stuart Murray Canal, the Cattanach Canal, and the East Goulburn Main Channel. These diversions supply the Shappartan Irrigation and Central Goulburn Irrigation areas. 2018 Irrigation Leader Irrigation Education Tour participants (left to right): Kris Polly, Mark Gardner, Dave Blodget, Dale Cramer, Thomas Zittle, Cheryl Zittle, Jim Wood, Kathy Fales, Darvin Fales, Gary Esslinger, Robert Faubion, Stuart Crane, Duane Vorderstrasse, Chris Gargan, Ben Woodard, Roger Sonnichsen, Damien Pearson, Tony Oakes (not in photo), and Ian Lyle (not in photo).

IRRIGATION LEADER

From left to right: Cheryl Zittle, Damien Pearson, Ian Lyle, Gary Esslinger, Darvin Fales, Tony Oakes.

Dave Blodget, alligare Every time I visit Australia, I am always impressed by the beauty of the countryside and the friendliness of the Australian people. They are always happy you have taken the time to see how they do things, and they enjoy the comparison to our procedures. Such was the case on this tour. I enjoyed seeing the modernization of the irrigation systems. Things have come a long way from back in the early 1990s when I lived in the Griffith area for several months. Rubicon put together a good schedule, allowing us to see many irrigation schemes and providing us with time to enjoy the areas as well. We received presentations at each location of what the districts have gone through politically and financially to bring them to their current conditions. It would be nice if our government saw the value in providing funding to our irrigation districts for infrastructure updates like the Australian government has. For us at Alligare, the future is bright because aquatic weed control is a necessity to keep the Rubicon infrastructure operating as designed. As MAGNACIDE H has been the sole aquatic herbicide used in Australia since the mid 1960s, we will continue to be an important partner in Australian irrigation. IRRIGATION LEADER

Dale Cramer, frenchman-cambridge irrigation district Our trip to Australia was rewarding and worthwhile. There was some fun, leisure time, and sightseeing, but a fair amount of time was spent on the reason for the tour: seeing how water is managed in another country whose technology is generally ahead of ours. There was a good mix of people with differing backgrounds and from different parts of the United States on the tour. Being from different areas, we were able to talk about the challenges we each face. That made for interesting conversations. Water Strategies and Rubicon organized the trip well and with an assortment of stops to see. The most important benefit of the trip for me was the one-on-one conversations I had with others on the tour and with the people at Rubicon. Kris Polly was a great host. I would definitely go again sometime on a tour of this nature. Duane Vorderstrasse, frenchman-cambridge irrigation district The Australian trip was well worth the time. One similarity I noted was that a lot of the problems that Australian farmers face are close to those of U.S. farmers. All are concerned with using water as efficiently as possible. A lot of the regulations that we face are common in Australia as well.

It was interesting to see the size and scale of the Australian canal systems, especially the fully automated ones. The technology is available to do tremendous things in efficiency through automation. The trip was well planned, and I would highly recommend it to anyone involved in surface water irrigation. Gary Esslinger, elephant butte irrigation district First and foremost, I must thank Kris Polly and Irrigation Leader magazine for a fabulous tour. This tour was well organized, informative, entertaining, and just down right fun! Most tourists would not comprehend or be able to keep up with our full-day, action-packed schedule. I also want to express my appreciation to Tony Oakes and Rubicon for the great hospitality and for giving us a real down under experience in learning about the historic, cultural, natural, and environmental resources of New South Wales, Australia. The tour was informative and light hearted, and in a down home Aussie fashion, Tony and our bus driver, Tim, kept us laughing and well entertained. What interested me the most along the tour was the underlying similarities of the three major irrigation areas— Golburn-Murray, Coleambally, and Murrumbidgee—we visited and how they compared with irrigation districts in the western United States. I was most impressed with the advanced automation technology, canal lining efficiencies, and water management practices that were brought on by extreme drought conditions in Australia—conditions we now are facing again in the West. I believe there is a lot we can learn from Australia’s past drought experiences, which opens the door to further work-study programs and research opportunities through a collaboration between the Australians and American universities, along with further educational exchanges with the western irrigation districts. The hardest thing for me to understand was their water rights administration. Trying to get my head around who owns the water, what the entitlement and allocation share of water is, and who determines the water allocation was a bit challenging, since everyone we spoke with explained it a little differently. Certainly the extreme drought conditions at the turn of the 21st century played a critical part in developing the water administration methodology that New South Wales now uses to control where the water is delivered. It was most impressive to understand how the state governments, the large municipalities, private irrigation companies, and ultimately, the farmers came together to address this Australian crisis. Rubicon was certainly in the right place at the right time to help develop the irrigation modernization plan that has focused on delivering irrigation infrastructure solutions, stateof-the-art gate automation technology, and canal lining construction design. My board president, Robert Faubion, and I came back with a multitude of ideas on how we might begin to use some of the latest irrigation technology that we saw implemented on canals in Australia on our irrigation

system. We have already made contact with an Australian researcher from the Murrumbidgee area who intends to visit our district later in the year to further develop his doctoral thesis on the effects of canal seepage. In the future, I would like the opportunity to expand a work-study program with my staff and the irrigation areas we visited. The kangaroo burrito I ate was interesting; it was the closest thing to Mexican food I found! Cheryl Zittle, salt river project The Australia trip was an outstanding opportunity to see best practices in an arid climate similar to that of Arizona. I was amazed by the amount of farming in Australia, given the limited supply of water. Rubicon did an outstanding job providing perspectives from several different irrigation districts in both Victoria and New South Wales. Their manufacturing plant was well structured and set to provide the nation’s water delivery systems. Our hosts graciously allowed us the opportunity to visit wildlife during our trip. I was pleased to have the opportunity to pet a koala bear and see kangaroos. Ian Lyle, national water resources association The 2018 Irrigation Education Tour to Australia was an eye-opening experience and a great opportunity to exchange ideas on water management and policy. We covered critical topics, from drought planning and agricultural production to infrastructure development and technology implementation. Beyond the information that was shared, it was also an excellent opportunity to get to know water managers from both the United States and Australia. The time touring projects and sharing meals allowed me to get to know both the issues facing Australian farmers and water managers as well as the people who are working to address them. It was also interesting to realize that although we literally couldn’t be farther apart geographically, we deal with many of the same issues. The information I gathered, the projects I saw, and the people I met made an impression that will last a lifetime. This tour gave me a valuable perspective that will not only benefit me, but that will also benefit my employer, the National Water Resources Association. I would like to thank Rubicon, Alligare, International Water Screens, and Irrigation Leader for making the tour possible. Chris Gargan, international water screens It was my first time going to Australia. The trip was great. The way the Australian’s deliver water is similar to the way we deliver water in the United States. However, you can essentially purchase water rights in Australia; it is almost like a commodity. It was interesting to learn about that and to see who has priority to the water depending on the type of crops grown. For me, the most beneficial part of the tour was spending a lot of time with people from the United States who work in the industry, especially the irrigation district managers. IWS would definitely go on the trip again. IL IRRIGATION LEADER

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DISTRICT PROFILE

Coleambally Irrigation Aerial view of Coleambally Main – Regulator No. 3.

Coleambally Irrigation The Coleambally irrigation area is situated about 250 miles north of Melbourne in the Riverina area of New South Wales, Australia. The town of Coleambally was established in 1968 by the New South Wales government for the sole purpose of supporting those who were first encouraged to establish irrigated agriculture in the area. Today, the town is home to Australia’s fourth-largest irrigation company, Coleambally Irrigation. The organizational structure of Coleambally Irrigation is different from other irrigation corporations because of its two cooperatives: Coleambally Irrigation Co-operative Limited (CICL) and Coleambally Irrigation Mutual Co-operative Limited (CIMCL). Each cooperative has a separate board, and one of the strengths of the model is that it separates the responsibility for day-to-day operations from the responsibility for future asset refurbishment and replacement. CICL CICL is focused on managing and maintaining its gravity irrigation supply and drainage system and provides corporate services. It is not an overstatement to say that CICL is devoted to providing excellent service to its farmers. In fact, CICL is wholly farmer owned. Being a farmer-owned cooperative ensures that the owners and operators of the 491 farms within the irrigation area have

their concerns heard and their needs met. Managing an irrigation cooperative covering over 1,128 million acres, of which 195,000 acres are intensively irrigated; 321 miles of supply channels; and 456 miles of drainage channels can be mind-boggling. Precision is key, and a constant drive for innovative water management ideas is imperative. Crops such as rice, cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, and canola are grown in the area CICL serves. Each crop has its own water needs, and irrigators require a strict water order and control system. To ensure that every drop of water is going to the right location in a timely manner and is efficiently used, CICL implemented a total channel control (TCC) system. The system allows CICL to execute a farmer’s water orders within a matter of 2 hours. During the fulfillment process, human interaction is not needed. The TCC system precisely regulates water flow and measurements while keeping control of water orders and accounting. CIMCL CIMCL was created in January 2000 as a separate cooperative and is responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient funds to maintain the major infrastructure assets. The infrastructure consists of channels, drains, bridges, culverts, regulators, pipes, and meters with varying life expectancies of 20–100 years. IRRIGATION LEADER

DISTRICT PROFILE

Coleambally Main – Regulator No. 3

NEW SOUTH WALES

Coleambally Irrigation takes pride in being “a clever company with clever farmers working in close collaboration with the community and the environment.” CIMCL has asked all members to pay an annual asset levy per delivery entitlement to fund the future replacement of the irrigation infrastructure. A typical farm holds 1,400 delivery entitlements and 1,400 water entitlements (one water entitlement equals 0.811 acre-feet). The CIMCL charges do not cover the earthen channels; these are maintained by CICL as part of its annual maintenance program. Every 5 years, CIMCL completes an independent modern engineering equivalent replacement asset (MEERA) assessment of the irrigation district’s assets, including a forecast of their remaining useful operational lives. The MEERA report, coupled with a reliable IRRIGATION LEADER

funding supply, allows CIMCL to update, fix, and replace infrastructure to ensure that the water delivery system remains on the cutting edge. Conclusion By working with their farmers, using leading industry technology to manage water, and implementing a sustainable infrastructure plan, Coleambally Irrigation remains the clever company with clever farmers working in close collaboration with the community and the environment. IL Learn more about Coleambally Irrigation at new.colyirr.com.au.

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DISTRICT PROFILE

Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District

AUSTRALIA Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District

VICTORIA

oulburn-Murray Irrigation District (GMW) has established itself as the largest rural water provider in Victoria, Australia. Everyday, GMW manages and delivers over 70 percent of Victoria’s stored water and half the area’s underground water. On average GMW delivers close to 2 million mega liters of water to rural, urban, and environmental users over a 68,000 square kilometer region—an area almost one-third the size of Victoria. Within GMW’s area are 1,200 dairy farms, which provide 21 percent of Australia’s milk, and 400,000 hectares of irrigated crops, such as wheat, barley, triticale, corn, and oilseeds. When combined, both industries provide $5.9 billion of value to the local and national economy. All in all, GMW has over 14, 131 gravity irrigators, 676 irrigators on pump systems, 11,071 surface water diverters, 8,786 groundwater diverts, and 1,269 domestic and stock customers. To supply water to its thousands of farmers, GMW operates 10,900 kilometers of channels, pipelines, and drains and 24 storages, making GMW Australia’s largest water delivery network. It would be easy to rest on its laurels; however, GMW is not letting off the gas. Instead, the water group is turning to the future, working to create a better system and provide IRRIGATION LEADER

DISTRICT PROFILE This 17-mile canal regulator is a large check structure on the East Goulburn Main Channel using automated Rubicon FlumGates. The East Goulburn Main supplies the Shepparton Irrigation area, one of six operational areas that make up the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District.

a better experience for its customers, while still setting records. Recently, GMW has decided to undertake a $2 billion Connections Project, funded by the Victorian and commonwealth governments. The project is poised to be the most significant upgrade to the region’s irrigation infrastructure in its 100-year history and is the largest irrigation modernization project in Australia. During the project, GMW will automate much of the water delivery network and replace aging irrigation infrastructure, meet measurement compliance requirements, and ensure equitable access to maintain the true value of water while also reducing the GMD footprint and making water use sustainable by preparing for future challenges and opportunities. The project is creating hundreds of jobs for local contractors, designers, manufacturers, and other water-related workers. All in all, the renovation project employs approximately 16 percent of GMW’s 748 fulltime-equivalent staff. Recently, drones have established themselves as a valuable asset for GMW. While they have not became an industrywide tool, drones enable GMW to improve its awareness and understanding of asset condition, which improves safety and reduces costs for the organization. GMW stands firm that this new technology is a IRRIGATION LEADER

cost-effective means of supporting the core business and improving its commitment to water users. While this forward thinking may seem enough, GMW also manages a number of storages and weirs on behalf of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). MDBA was established in 2007 as an independent expertise-based agency with the sole responsibility of planning the basin’s water resources and ensuring that the best interests of the basin as a whole are met. This includes managing water sustainability and quality, educating the public, and providing water rights information. As part of the agreement, GMW operates salinity mitigation works on the Murray and is the Victorian constructing authority for the MDBA. While thinking of the future, GMW also remains well connected to the community. As part of its day-to-day operations, GMW maintains safe boating access at 14 of the 24 storages. This includes managing 721 houseboat licenses and the leasing of 11 caravan parks, 62 clubs, and 80 public recreation areas next to the lakes and dams. Through their devotion to the community, the environment, and innovative technology, GMW has distinguished itself as an industry leader in Australia and will continue to innovate to meet the demands of tomorrow. IL

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DISTRICT PROFILE

Murrumbidgee Irrigation AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES

Murrumbidgee Irrigation

n 1912, the Australian government formed Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) following the commissioning of Burrinjuck Dam in the Snowy Mountains. The intent of the project was to construct a system that would make inland Australia a drought-proof major food producer and that would create jobs for an expanding nation. Today, MI has done just that and much more. Servicing over 3,300 landholdings that are owned by over 2,500 customers within a 670,000-hectare area in the Murray-Darling basin, MI has developed into a large and thriving irrigation district. MIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core operation is the delivery of water through an extensive integrated supply and drainage network ranging over 140,000 hectares. The system comprises 250 kilometers of cement-lined channels, 100 kilometers of piped channels, and over 3,100 kilometers of earthen channels, totaling well over 3,500 kilometers of supply channels. The MI system receives its water from the Burrinjuck and Blowering Dams. The water is released by the New South Wales Water governing body into the Murrumbidgee River. MI operates two main offtakes from the river: the Main Canal, which can divert 6.6 billion liters a day, and the Sturt Canal, which can divert 2.2 billion liters a day. MI has a strong focus on safety, not only for its customers and its 180 employees, but also for the community. It runs a public service campaign that focuses on canal safety. Outside the industry, few know just how dangerous canals can be. They are not a safe place to swim. There are many dangers like varying water depths, submerged objects, and snakes, as well as dangers that have arisen due to new technology, such as slippery polyethylene linings and automated structures that can trap and drown individuals.

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DISTRICT PROFILE

LEFT: Murrumbidgee Irrigation in New South Wales, Australia. ABOVE: Murrumbidgee Irrigation is one of the largest private irrigation companies in Australia, serving over 3,300 landholdings owned by over 2,500 customers within an area of 1.6 million acres. Murrumbidgee is currently modernizing with Rubicon technology.

The water MI provides is used to grow produce and manufacture local products. The reliable quantity and quality of water from the Murrumbidgee River has helped the region distinguish itself as a diverse and highly productive agricultural region. The area has become a leader in Australian cotton, wine, citrus, walnut, and almond production. As a matter of fact, the area is the self-proclaimed “food bowl” of Australia. Today, the region is a progressive and changing landscape, with a range of innovative farming enterprises, a diversity of crop types, and a dynamic processing sector. MI’s vision—Growing our future together—Customers, Company, Community—recognizes the importance of irrigation to the region and the nation and MI’s responsibility to customers, company, and the community. The company is currently undertaking the most ambitious renewal and expansion program in its 106-year history. It is replacing aging water delivery infrastructure, relining and refurbishing channels, and automating the main supply canals. These works are aimed at using water efficiently and are mostly funded by the Australian government. MI is positioned to grow and support regional prosperity, confirming the region’s status as the most productive irrigation area in the nation. MI will continue to work with its customers and the community to create opportunities and to continue to turn Australia’s once-arid land into a lush, innovative garden for the country. IL IRRIGATION LEADER

Smart practices. Sustainable solutions. VOL. 2, ISSUE 3 | January 2018

We put agriculture irrigation center stage!

Smart practices. Sustainable solutions. VOL. 2, ISSUE 2 | October 2017

With a focus on agriculture irrigation, Irrigation Today, the Irrigation Association’s quarterly magazine, provides readers valuable information about the industry:

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• latest technology and trends • legislative and policy issues • content from industry experts • economic updates

Crop yield studies LEPA & close drop spacing, subsurface drip & drip irrigation Gothenburg Water Utilization Learning Center

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Upcoming features include pumps and groundwater, controllers and mobile technologies, and system maintenance. Subscriptions To receive your free subscription to Irrigation Today, contact the IA at info@irrigationtoday.org or call 703.536.7080. Advertising Put your company on the pages of Irrigation Today and in the hands of those you want to reach. For information about advertising opportunities, contact Cliff Juretich, account manager, at cliffjuretich@irrigation.org or 805.358.4806.

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Irrigation Challenges in Australia Irrigation districts in Australia face a variety of management and operational challenges not experienced by their American counterparts. Below is a small sampling of some of their more unique challenges.

Australia has 21 of the 25 most venomous snakes in the world. Irrigation district workers must wear protective snake gaiters during the irrigation season, September to March. In warmer weather, snakes may been sighted in workplaces, so it is important for workers to be vigilant while working near channels and in tall grass. Kangaroos are constant driving hazards along rural roads and major highways. They are attracted to puddles of water in the road that form after it rains. Kangaroos can weigh up to 200 pounds and can cause severe vehicle damage and injury to occupants if struck at a high speed. They tend to travel in groups (mobs) and generally rest during the day. Kangaroos are most active between dusk and dawn.

Panicum effusum, known as hairy panic or panic grass, is a native Australian grass that is drought tolerant and fast growing. It can reach up to 27 inches tall. In dry climates, the grass can flourish into a tumbleweed and clog canal systems.

The brown widow spider, latrodectus geometricus, is commonly found in Australia. Brown widows thrive in well-lit areas, including on eaves of buildings, ledges of brick walls, top boards of wooden fences, or chainlink fences. Brown widow spider bites are not as venomous as black widow spiders; sometimes their bites do not even release venom.

IRRIGATION LEADER

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RUBICON WATER, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, AND KRIS POLLY.

Cherax destructor, known as the yabby, is a common Australian crustacean that thrives in bodies of freshwater, including dams and irrigation canals. Unlike the crayfish in the United States, yabbies are similar in size to lobsters, ranging from 3 to 12 inches in length. Yabbies can dig deep burrows, from 20 inches to 6 feet deep, along cement walls of irrigation infrastructure, causing piping and sometimes canal wall failure. The addition of a crushed limestone barrier to the wall can keep them at bay because of limestone's alkaline quality. Considered a nuisance to irrigation managers, they can be trapped and eaten like crayfish and lobster.

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CLASSIFIEDS

Hiring: General Manager

BOISE PROJECT BOARD OF CONTROL IS HIRING: PROJECT MANAGER

The General Manager position at the Fresno Irrigation District will be opening in early fall of 2018 due to the forthcoming retirement of the incumbent after more than 30 years with the District. We are looking for the next General Manager to lead our team in the continued efforts of developing and managing water resources. For more detailed information about this exciting opportunity, and to apply for the position, please visit our “Employment Opportunities” link located on our webpage at www.fresnoirrigation.com.

The Project Manager of the Boise Project administers and implements the policies, programs and rules adopted by the Boise Project’s Board of Directors. Responsibilities include the day-to-day management of operations and successful leadership of the Boise Project.

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Job Location: Fresno, CA Application Deadline: 05/18/2018

HIRING: Irrigation District Manager Huntley Project Irrigation District is currently seeking an Irrigation District Manager to oversee operations and maintenance of a 30,000 acre irrigation system located in Ballantine, Montana. Manager will perform field work, evaluate, prioritize, and manage operational procedures of the District, coordinate planning and development programs, policies, procedures, goals and objectives.

Must have excellent communication skills and the ability to maintain productive working relationships with employees, Board of Commissioners, land-owners, and governmental agencies. Knowledge of irrigation systems and water conservation practices necessary. Must have current drivers license. Wage commensurate with experience. Benefits will be discussed by employer. Drug free workplace with pre-employment drug testing. EEOC. Please submit your resume with salary expectations to hpid07@nemont.net or mail to PO Box 61, Ballantine, MT 59006. Contact Liz at 406–967–3400 with any questions. Position open until filled.

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In Memoriam

Dave Koland D

avid Koland, known to friends as Dave, passed away on May 8, 2018, at the age of 75. Born in Oregon and raised in North Dakota, Dave attended the University of North Dakota, majoring in business. He put his skills to good use in many endeavors but ultimately directed them to his passion: water. Known as the Water Guy by many, he was inducted into the North Dakota Water Users Hall of Fame in 2016. Most recently, Dave served as general manager for the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District for 13 years, executive director for the North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association for 11 years, and president of the North Dakota Water Education Foundation. Dave also served as president of the National Water Resources Association and on the NWRA board for many years. Prior to his career in water, Dave was a North Dakota legislator. Dave was an active community member, involved in many organizations. He enjoyed golf, playing cards, and spending time with friends and family. He is survived by his wife, Tudy, of 44 years; his daughter Stacey and her husband Todd Thorsell; grandsons Tracy Thorsell (Brooke) and Jesse Thorsell; one great-grandchild, Willie Thorsell; one brother, Gerald Koland; and two sisters, Janet Houle and Sharon Koland. He was preceded in death by his father, Louis Koland, and his mother, Bessie Koland.

“I think the key is to look where you didn’t think you had opportunities before. Most people are disbelieving and say “no, that’s never been done before.” We have to find new ways to do things because we’re in a whole different world in agriculture now. Some situations don’t pay off right away. You might be able to come back later with some new players or technology and make something work that seemed impossible just a few years ago.” —Dave Koland, Irrigation Leader, 2011

John Leininger (left), Garrison Diversion former board chairman, and Dave Koland, former Garrison Diversion general manager, in 2011.

IRRIGATION LEADER

“Dave was such a great guy. A real out-of-the-box thinker and problem solver. His good-natured advice and solid counsel will be missed by the western water community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.” —Kris Polly

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Irrigation Leader Washington Edition April 2018

Articles inside

A Case Study in Extending Canal Life at the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District