Irrigation district looks at expansion, invasive species

Posted 2/14/19

The year 2018 was a big year for the Heart Mountain Irrigation District as it attempts to expand by thousands of acres amidst a change of leadership.

In an expensive, multi-year effort, the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Irrigation district looks at expansion, invasive species

Posted

The year 2018 was a big year for the Heart Mountain Irrigation District as it attempts to expand by thousands of acres amidst a change of leadership.

In an expensive, multi-year effort, the enlargement aims to bring about 3,400 more service contract acres into the fold of the district’s adjudicated acres. Approval now rests in the hands of the State Engineer’s Office.

It’s unknown when the state will finish its work, but the board hopes to finish the process by the end of 2019, said Tyler Weckler, the new district manager.

“The enlargement process is in review stage and now all we can do is wait,” Weckler said.

The district also held elections during the meeting Tuesday, but there were no changes as both board members were re-elected unanimously. Patricia Nelson returns as commissioner in District 1 and Brad Ferguson returns in District 2 to help guide the district through big-ticket items. Those include the enlargement, repairs to the canal and the rebuilding of a concrete-lined section of the Heart Mountain canal downstream of the Rattlesnake Mountain tunnel, commonly called the Rattlesnake liner.

Work to the failing liner is now open to a design, bid, build process. That’s a change from the original plan proposed by former district manager Randy Watts, who wanted district employees to do the work.

“Prior management went against the consensus of the board,” Weckler said.

Weckler replaced Watts last summer after Watts was involved in what meeting attendees referred to as an “altercation.”

The concrete liner, built in 1938, sprung a major leak just before area farmers began harvest in 2017. The district hopes to have repairs made before more water is lost and irrigation interrupted, but can only work on the project after the water is cut off in fall and winter. Replacement and repairs to liner will be financed through two grants; a $900,000 grant through the WaterSMART program of the Bureau of Reclamation and a $1.7 million grant through the Wyoming Water Development Commission.

Weckler said the district hopes to break ground this fall but is waiting for an environmental review required by the WaterSMART grant.

The Heart Mountain district, along with the entire region, will face new invasive species in the coming years. Medusahead and ventenata, also known as North African grass or wiregrass, are capable of driving out more desirable native species and reducing livestock forage by up to 70 percent in areas where they get established.

The winter annual grasses were found in Sheridan County three years ago as well as in Glenrock to the south. Like cheatgrass, the species also threaten sagebrush steppe habitat.

“If you get Medusahead or ventenata, you’ll wish for the good ol’ days when you only had cheatgrass,” said Josh Shorb, supervisor of the Park County Weed and Pest Control District. Neither species has been found in Park County, but are expected, Shorb said.

Another invasive species recently discovered south of Laurel, Montana, is causing additional concern in the county. Palmer amaranth, a type of pigweed devastating crops in the South and Midwest, is feared to be making its way here, Shorb said.

“If you see a great big plant growing out in a crop, please let us know,” Shorb said. “Take pictures, text us, call us — if it shows up in Park County we’re going to have to get real aggressive really fast.”

Weed and Pest will cost share at 100 percent for what they consider priority species to eradicate in the county.

Comments