Spring 2025

Welcome to the Spring 2025 edition of the Farmers Irrigation District (FID) Newsletter! I am hoping to provide key information to keep FID patrons updated on a more consistent basis. As we prepare for another busy irrigation season in 2025, we want to keep FID patrons informed about district information, upcoming events, and tips to ensure a smooth and successful season.

FID’s mission is to promote ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable agriculture by providing energy and irrigation services for the common good. This mission guides everything we do as we support our community and maintain a reliable water supply for agricultural operations, rural residential irrigation, and hydropower operations across the district.

All invoices for the 2025 irrigation season must be received or posted marked by April 15, 2025 to avoid additional interest, service interruption, and/or lien filing. Timely payment ensures efficient allocation of water resources and helps maintain the infrastructure required to meet the needs of all our customers throughout the season. In an effort to streamline payment processing, FID will no longer be using DOXO for online payments. We will continue to offer the following payment options:

• Check/money order in person or by mail
• Online payment through your bank’s bill pay service
• Credit card in person or by phone

We’re committed to finding the most cost-effective and convenient payment methods, and we’ll continue to assess the best options in the coming years. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.

State law allows FID to begin diverting water for irrigation on April 15th. During the first two weeks of the season, our staff will be working diligently to safely fill the many miles of pipeline across the district. Please be patient while our staff is working to get the system up and running.

As always, we ask our customers to be mindful of water usage and follow best practices to conserve water. Early season chores are important to ensure your irrigation system is ready. These include:

• close your valves until you are ready for water
• check your system for leaks or breaks
• close drains and prepare the rest of your system for water
• clean your filter regularly
• if you share a private irrigation system with neighbors, make sure you have a clear plan in place for water distribution through the irrigation season

Properly preparing your system early on and maintaining it will help prevent issues later in the season and ensure that your water supply is used efficiently.

In addition to these preparations, if you encounter any pressure or flow issues, they are usually related to one or more common causes. These include clogged filters, exceeding your allotted water rate, or too many users in a shared private system attempting to use irrigation water at the same time. If issues arise, please contact our office so we can assist in diagnosing and resolving the problem.

Looking ahead to the 2026 irrigation season, I want to update you on our efforts regarding patron assessments. I am actively working to identify additional sources of revenue that would help bring down the cost of irrigation water, but I do not foresee significant relief within the next year. However, there is a dedicated group of FID patrons working to secure financial support for those in need, and I remain hopeful that their efforts will bring positive results for the 2026 season. In our next quarterly update, scheduled for July 2025, I hope to have more concrete information about the 2026 assessments and potential assistance options. Thank you for your patience as we continue working towards finding a sustainable solution.

Funding is available through the Hood River Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCS) to assist landowners with resource conservation, including upgrading on-farm irrigation systems, irrigation water management, fencing livestock out of waterways, manure storage, riparian plantings, and other improvements. If you are interested in learning more, you can contact the SWCD at 541-386-4588 and NRCS at 541-352-1037.

As always, our office is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM (closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 PM). If you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance, please feel free to reach out to us. We appreciate your continued partnership and commitment to shared goals. Thank you for being a part of the FID community. We look forward to serving you throughout the season, and we’ll continue to keep you informed with quarterly updates.

Best regards,

Alexis Vaivoda, District Manager

Farmers Irrigation District
541-387-5261
https://www.fidhr.org/