Greater Wenatchee Irrigation District

Water conservation in action
Home     About Us     Contact Us     Site Map     News     Forms     Flyers     Employment     Current Problems     East Unit Map     A short story     Links      
Pause Stop Previous Next View full-sized photos
Providing Irrigation water to approximatley 10,000 acres in three districts
                                                                                                                                 
  
East Unit
Services more than 4500 acres of land in East Wenatchee,water is pumped from the columbia river and lifted 677 feet to a regulating reservoir and is distributed throught the district.
Brays Landing
Services about 2000 acres of land 25 miles north of Wenatchee.
Howard Flats
Services around 1000 acres of land in Chelan County northeast of the town of Chelan
Five Board Members administer our policies and procedures, while the Secretary/Manager administers the daily operations.  Each member is required to live within the District Boundaries.
We currently have 7 employees
  • Secretary / Manager
  • Assistant Secretary
  • Office Assistant
  •  
    Howard Flats Operator/Electrical
  • Brays Landing Operator/Electrical
  • East unit Operators/Electrical (2)

 

Photo shows District Property Brays Landing

Company History
The District was built by the US Bureau of Reclamation in the 1960's and was intended to water farm crops. Between 1985-87 the district was expanded and upgraded to include more agricultural land.  Once the land has been determined by the Bureau to receive irrigation, the water rights stay with the land.  As lands have sold and sub-divided, we have acquired residential areas. Water Rates
Water rates are regulated by the cost to supply water to the users.  As prices to pump and deliver water increase, the rate for water will increase.  There are multiple factors that go into the costs of delivery of irrigation water.  For example, power, fuel, repair/maintenance,  weed control, regulation compliance, equipment maintenance and labor all contribute to the rates.GWID pays a yearly payment to the USBR For construction of our District.  The payment is built on a sliding scale so the payment amount increases every year. This has the potential to cause an increase in our rates.
Power
Most of the district's electric motors are powered by the BPA which sells the district power at a rate set by congress. The remainder of the power comes from Douglas County  PUD and by Chelan County PUD
-----------------------------
Repair
Water meters are repaired on a 3 year rotation basis.  Our pumps are rotated on a 7 year cycle, and our motors are cycled every 5 years.  We have 9 reservoirs, 7 tanks, several pressure reducing stations, valves, overhead power lines, miles of underground pipe and miscellaneous equipment to maintain.
-----------------------------
Fuel We all know the rising cost of fuel and its effects.
-----------------------------
Administrative
Meetings for sub divisions. Federal, State, County regulations.
Customer service, records, billing.
Utility Locates.
-----------------------------
Upgrade
We are constantly trying to deliver water more efficiently and safely.  This entails vision, continued education and financial assistance.
RATES
The District rates have remained moderately low for the past 30 years and we hope to continue to deliver water at  reasonable rates. 
Our district has  Old Ag and New Ag lands. Old Ag is considered to be irrigable lands in the district before 1985.  New Ag includes irrigable land in the district after 1985.  The USBR is paid according to your land classification.
New Ag rates are currently $155.50 per acre, with a  $39.00 account charge
Old Ag rates are currently $98.50 per acre, with a one acre minimum, and a  $39.00 account charge 
LID fees are $22.00, if applicable.
Projects:
We will always have projects in progess, as  it is our way of keeping the district current and in operation.
Current Projects:
We are currently working on an upgrade to the Howard Flats operating control system. We have received a matching funds grant from the USBR to bring the system up to date. We are looking at a re-regulating reservoir to help with increased flow demands during peak use.
Past Project:
Projects would include a new computer controlled operating system in the East Unit and Brays Landing.  Radio control for the start and stop of the pumps,
and  G.I.S. mapping to bring our old paper maps into a computer program.  This is an on going project.
Look for more information and updates in the future as time will allow.