Two irrigation districts pull out of joint board

ST. IGNATIUS — Last week both the Jocko Valley and Mission irrigation districts decided to split from the Flathead Joint Board of Control in September, effectively dissolving the regulatory board for area irrigators.

The schism comes on the heels of a tumultuous year for the board, since its membership was sharply divided over a proposed water compact for the Flathead Reservation.

Tensions from the dispute over the negotiated agreement spilled into recent board elections.

In separate meetings on Friday, Jocko Valley and Mission district officials voted to break away from the Flathead Joint Board of Control.

Jerry Johnson, chairman of the Mission district, said the move is economically motivated.

“In my mind, it’s a financial deal. It gives us security,” said Johnson. “The big thing is if this goes to litigation, with the split-off of the Jocko Valley and the Mission, we won’t have to help pay for that stuff.”

Johnson added that the newfound independence also will free Jocko Valley and Mission irrigators from sharing the cost of pumping water from the Flathead River – a practice that soon will become much more costly.

“The low-cost block of power [for pumping water from the Flathead River] expires in 2015,” explained Alan Mikkelsen, consultant to the Joint Board of Control. Without a renewed agreement lined up to regulate the price of power beyond that point, pumping costs could double or triple.

“I do think that the Jocko and the Mission are going to be extremely reluctant to pay for Flathead River pumping costs in the future,” Mikkelsen said.

While heightened pumping costs may represent one impetus for change, Mikkelsen echoed the notion that the move was primarily motivated by the threat of litigation.

“They’re very concerned about the direction of the board,” said Mikkelsen.

Though the organization of power is shifting away from the board and into the hands of individual irrigators, Johnson is confident that the move will be in the best interests of water users. He said irrigation in the area was managed smoothly prior to the formation of a regulatory board in the 1980s.

“The area had been this way for 60 years until the ’80s,” said Johnson.

“I think it’s a good move for individuals. What might be right for us might not be right for folks up in Post Creek or Pablo.”