Cottonwood Creek Irrigation gives updates on irrigation project

By PHIL FAUVER staff writer

Cottonwood Creek Consolidated Irrigation Company shareholder annual meeting updated members on the progress of the irrigation system.
The members also elected officers and conducted business and provided information about the progress of installing pressurized water pipelines to farms and municipalities. This is being accomplished through the following pipelines: The Adobe Pipeline, The Clipper Western Pipeline, The Blue Cut Pipeline, The Upper Mammoth Pipeline and The Lower Mammoth Pipeline.
The CCCIC Board members elected for the year 2016 are as follows: The Mammoth Canal – Clyde Magnuson, Craig Johansen, Shane Nielsen,
The Blue Cut Canal – Justus Jorgensen, Klayton Laws, The Clipper/Western Canals – Karl Justesen, Lee Magnuson, Municipal and Industrial – Laren Huntsman and Secretary/Treasurer – Jessy Johansen.
President Clyde Magnuson called the meeting to order read the minutes of the last meeting and gave a financial report. He then reviewed last year’s activities. When the whole pipeline irrigation project is complete $30 million will have been spent.
Clyde reported that changes would have to be made around the Adobe Wash Reservoir to divert rainwater from flooding sediment off of the surrounding hills into the reservoir.
Craig Johansen reviewed for the group the history of the CCCIC pressurized pipeline irrigation project started in 2008 and how it has been accomplished. He mentioned all of those entities that assisted by providing some of the funds for this project. Craig reported the Mammoth Canal pipeline should be completed this year. The Mill Ditch First Class water rights were exchanged for 2000 shares of Cottonwood Creek Consolidated Irrigation Company and that pipeline has now been added to the Mammoth Canal pipeline project.
Craig said Orangeville City has five drain lines that flow into the old irrigation pipeline that goes, underground, through the city of Orangeville and East to the Cottonwood Creek. The Orangeville City Council wants to retain that pipeline for rain and snow water drainage into the river.
Jay Mark Humphrey of the Emery Water Conservancy District reported a total of 50,539 acre feet of water was delivered through the irrigation system last growing season. An acre-foot of water is described as water covering an acre of land with the water being one foot deep. The CCCIC system is now more efficient in delivering water and has less shrinkage from leaks and evaporation. The snow pack will change with every storm we receive and at present we are at 84 percent of normal. Weather modification is being used to bring more snow and rain but it requires the right type of clouds.
Cory Worwood director of the Emery County Weed and Mosquito Department told the group there is money available for on farm eradication of Russian Olive Trees and other weeds. The re-growth from the Russian Olive root sprouts need to be sprayed with a herbicide to keep them from becoming trees. Cory is willing to train anyone with the best methods for killing the re-growth. Cory explained the foliar spraying method versus the basal bark treatment for killing Russian Olives and which method he believes is the most effective. He recommended using the herbicide Garlon 4 mixed with diesel oil. Garlon 4 and instructions are available from the Emery County Weed and Mosquito Department.
Lowell Gardner of the NRCS said the NRCS also has funds that can help with Russian Olive removal.
Lowell then displayed a map showing nine salinity (alkali) reduction priority focus areas along the waterways and canal pipelines from Huntington to Clawson. He listed how much money has been spent by NRCS to date on each canal or pipeline.
Lowell reported NRCS has 120 applications for on farm sprinkler system installation assistance. We will work with service providers to help farmers get started with the process and move these applications along. The applications are ranked as high, medium or low priority. November was the deadline for applications and they are awarded by the end of February for the first round of funding.