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The watermasters
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Physically checking headgates is just one of the many duties of Idaho watermasters. |
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Today Idaho’s landscape is resplendent with farms, pastures and orchards, and the state’s economy is largely driven by agriculture. Yet a visitor can drive from beautiful green forests and lush farms to barren deserts speckled with sagebrush in a matter of minutes.
Given Idaho’s seemingly natural beauty, it is difficult to imagine that most of the state used to be covered in infertile desert. But that was exactly the case in the 19th century, especially in the southern part of the state where the land was generally uninhabited and certainly not conducive to a productive agricultural environment.
When settlers began meandering off the Oregon Trail to give homesteading in Idaho a try, the prospect of living off the barren land likely seemed unwelcoming. Resourceful settlers knew that if they wanted to survive, they’d need water. Eventually they began diverting water from the Snake River, usually by means of digging ditches, to areas of the land they inhabited. The idea of water diversion is owed to early Idaho miners and the basic principle of water rights in the state is still based on the mining industry.
Early water rights
Water rights in Idaho are based on the Prior Appropriation Doctrine, established in the 1800s. The basic principle is “first in time, first in right”—a basic first come, first served philosophy. The first person to divert water from a water source owned that water right.
For example, the first documented water right on the Boise River, dated June 1, 1864, belonged to Thomas Davis. He constructed a ditch in 1863 to divert water to cultivate his 300-acre vegetable farm. Although Davis sold the ditch and water right to Cyrus Jacobs in 1864, he left a clause in the contract guaranteeing himself a lifetime water right on his remaining lands. To date, his is still the most senior water right on the Boise River.
While the system of administration based on Prior Appropriation seems simple enough, disputes were inevitable. The first squabbles over water rights arose in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. In an effort to add some degree of regulation to water rights, watermasters were established.
Need for regulation
According to the watermasters’ handbook, published by the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR), “the primary function of a watermaster is to distribute water to those entitled to its use.” A simple sentence indeed, but slightly confusing to the general audience. Specifically, how is water “distributed” and who are “those entitled to its use?” With a bit of inspection, it really is quite simple. Watermasters were appointed to establish ownership to water as disputes to those rights materialized in the early 1900s. They were elected to disperse rights to those entitled, based on previously established rights, and to ensure fair use.
More specifically, when settlers first came to the West and Idaho, the land was largely uncultivable. Several acts were passed through Congress promoting residential settling in the arid land, such as the Homestead Act of 1862, encouraging population growth and land development, and the Desert Land Act of 1877, encouraging irrigation and water accessibility. Congress also passed the Carey Act of 1894, allowing private companies to build irrigation systems to divert water to farmland.
The passage of these acts made water more accessible in Idaho’s barren lands. At the same time, however, there was no regulation of water rights. Not too long after Congress took steps to make water more available to water users, quarrels surfaced and regulation became necessary. Enter watermasters.
Watermaster duties
Today the functions of a watermaster vary depending on their district. Watermasters are considered employees of the state and are surety bonded by the state, but not all are employees of the IDWR. They are, in fact, elected and compensated by water users within the districts for which they work. However, the basic duties of a watermaster are relatively similar across the state:
Distribute water. This is the first and foremost responsibility of a watermaster, though the methods vary. Usually distributing water means physically allowing water to pass through a headgate or some other mechanism designed to keep water in or out.
Determine seniority. All water rights have a seniority date based on initial establishment and watermasters must be familiar with those dates. Junior water rights cannot be fulfilled until senior rights are first met—hence the basic principle of first in time, first in right.
Carry out fieldwork. Watermasters are also in charge of regulating diversions to ensure water users are within their decreed rights. Enforcement may include measuring devices and headgates, issuing notices of violations and/or sending letters of warning.
Complete management/administration. Much of a watermaster’s time is also spent in the office. They are in charge of reviewing mitigation and water right transfer requests, injury notifications (i.e. complaints that a request for a water right will cause harm to another), budgets, and annual reports.
The future for watermasters
The evolution of watermasters, even over the last few years, is substantial. But consider the antiquated term “ditchrider” and the fact that groundwater use wasn’t even available until the 1950s, and the advancements are astounding.
Technological Advances
One of the most impressive advancements for watermasters is the implementation by the IDWR of a geographic information system (GIS) for water rights management. Though the system is not used in all districts, many watermasters now find themselves managing water use with a high-tech infrared mapping system from the comfort of their own offices. One watermaster, though, cautions that no matter how advanced technology gets, water management can never be completely effective without fieldwork. There will always be some need to visit water users to ensure accuracy.
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Ron Shurtleff has been managing the Payette River water district for five seasons. |
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Another development is remote sensing and automated gating on canals. Gone, albeit not completely, are the days of manually opening and closing stubborn headgates. Many canal companies and irrigation districts are already equipped to complete this part of their job remotely.
In the Payette River district, for example, 80 percent of the water volume is constantly measured through automated measurement devices. The watermaster gets a reading every 15 minutes. The cost of implementing this new technology was substantial but was outweighed by the tremendous benefits of having a much leaner and more accurate measurement system.
District Growth
Water districts are also growing rapidly. The IDWR is in the process of developing new water districts and combining some into larger districts. District #130, stationed in the Twin Falls area, currently contains 1,800 wells and 70 diversions, and is looking to add more. District #63, managing the Boise River, also contains more than 70 diversions and wells that require weekly monitoring, including the New York Canal, the largest diversion in the district. Larger still is the Payette River District #65 housing over 175 diversions with many more to come.
Another factor in changes to district growth is that second home ownership is becoming increasingly popular. One watermaster says this new trend may require a full staff just to manage water rights. One of the first things new second homeowners want is a pond, which can fall into the category of a recreational, wildlife, or even irrigation water right. Managing these new water rights will be exceptionally difficult to handle, especially if they are treated as irrigation water rights, since irrigation water rights are last on the curtailment chain.
Increase in Job Demands
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Watermasters’ job descriptions are quickly becoming more technical. In the Eastern Snake River Plain district, for example, watermasters are expected to have the ability to analyze spatial data and use complicated databases. Watermasters will be expected to be more technologically savvy in all aspects of their jobs, especially in communication and using computer software, says one watermaster.
Another says a required skill is the ability to work with the public. And with changes to water rights and management, especially with conjunctive management and the Snake River Basin adjudication on the forefront, problem solving and communication skills are going to become even more important.
Changes to Water Management
Perhaps one of the largest forthcoming issues for watermasters and water users is the regulation of groundwater. Since the use of groundwater is relatively new, past regulation has been minimal. But with new rules implemented by the Snake River Basin adjudication, groundwater regulation has become a hot button issue and watermasters are faced with regulating rights that haven’t been an issue before. This combination of the management of surface water and groundwater is known as conjunctive management and is quickly becoming an issue for watermasters throughout the state.
Regardless of the changes to water management and districts, water will continue to be an essential and scarce resource. As long as our water is governed by the “first in time, first in right” philosophy, watermasters will fill an important role in the Gem State.
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