Irrigation Infrastructure
In this corner of the state, enough surface water exists to supply 37 irrigation ditches and acequias that deliver water for irrigation, municipal, and industrial uses. Some of the irrigation infrastructure is over a century old, posing multiple opportunities to work alongside ditch associations with grant funds to update aging and deteriorating systems.
After six years of planning and coordination, the SJWG completed a diversion improvement and ditch piping project in 2021 with the Ranchmans Terrell Ditch Association and countless partners. Originally a cobble push-up dam needing frequent maintenance, this diversion is now a robust cross-vane structure benefiting ditch efficiency, fish habitat, and river recreation.
Advances in technology and materials will allow new infrastructure to better conserve water, reduce annual maintenance, support ditch efficiency, and improve river hydraulics and functionality. While these projects are particularly complicated and costly, they are critical to maintaining access to water and improving water quality.