{"id":23208,"date":"2025-03-10T21:15:12","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T03:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/farmers-irrigation-district-preparing-for-water-restrictions\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T22:29:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:29:50","slug":"farmers-irrigation-district-preparing-for-water-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/farmers-irrigation-district-preparing-for-water-restrictions\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmers Irrigation District preparing for water restrictions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"John
John Lofgren, Farmers Irrigation District president, discusses the water shortage. David Edward Albright\/Tri-City Record<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Farmers in the Farmers Irrigation District and other districts in San Juan County likely will face water restrictions, according to Farmers Irrigation District Board President John Lofgren.<\/p>\n

An official decision is expected in April, he said Wednesday.<\/p>\n

He emphasized that early implementation would help farmers manage their operations more effectively.<\/p>\n

The New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, District 5 in Aztec, shares a similar outlook and suggests restrictions could follow a two-days-on, two-days-off schedule, affecting agricultural planning across the area.<\/p>\n

The San Juan Water Commission <\/a>canceled its March 5 meeting and has not announced the meeting date in April. Quarterly meetings are held for members to ask questions at the Lions Club, Aztec Public Library or Flora Vista Mutual Domestic Water Association office, depending on availability.<\/p>\n

Water is expected to be flowing in the Farmers Ditch, which serves more than 2,000 users, by April 1.<\/p>\n

Lofgren said water can be released from Lake Nighthorse<\/a> to supplement water in the Animas River. The city of Farmington pays for water storage in that reservoir, he said.<\/p>\n

The Farmers Ditch was constructed in 1892, drawing water from the Animas River north of Aztec, and was extended into the Flora Vista area in 1907, ending west of the Barton Arroyo,\u201d it states on farmersirrigationdistrict.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the 1907 Jones Extension of the ditch apparently began near the start of the present-day concrete-lined section and continued to the Flora Vista Arroyo. The San Juan County Commission passed a resolution in 1954, making the Farmer\u2019s Ditch a Special Irrigation District.<\/p>\n

In 1963, the city extended the ditch across the Flora Vista Arroyo to the water storage reservoir at Lake Farmington.<\/p>\n

The San Juan County Commission passed a resolution in 1954, making the Farmers Ditch a special irrigation district.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis administrative change allows the district to ad valorem taxes upon all lands in the district, including urban property not irrigated or cultivated,\u201d they state. \u201cRevenue may be raised by the imposition of tolls and charges.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lofgren said a restructuring of the bylaws, calling for six board members with a nonvoting president in order to achieve a quorum. Board members have been rotating as president.<\/p>\n

Farmers Ditch begins north of Aztec off Ruins Road and meanders about 18 miles to Lake Farmington. The city of Farmington is the largest customer of the Farmers Irrigation District. Lofgren said their financial arrangement with the city is contractual, based on their water rights. Farmington pays the district per acre-foot to transport the water in the ditch to Lake Farmington.<\/p>\n

The rates with the city are being renegotiated, as it only pays $16.50 per acre-foot. The irrigation district is asking for $27.50 per acre-foot, Lofgren said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe think we\u2019re being a good partner because we want to work with the city of Farmington,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

A farmer pays $68 per acre-foot and $26.50 for the second and consecutive acres. The fees are paid to San Juan County in their property taxes.<\/p>\n

Lofgren said water rights can be put in the bank for someone else to use, to prevent them from being lost. The bookkeeper for the district keeps those records, which are provided to the New Mexico State Office of the State Engineer.<\/a><\/p>\n

Lofgren said recently they noticed their revenue from Farmington had decreased drastically, falling from a peak of nearly $300,000 six or seven years ago.<\/p>\n