FAQs

The Palisade Irrigation District holds the water rights for the land within the District. Each parcel is allocated a proportional amount of the District’s water right. Each parcel is allocated 1/3 to 1/2 of a Colorado miner’s inch per acre depending on water availability. One Colorado miner’s inch is about 5.5 gallons per minute. The District’s water rights are not sufficient for everyone to irrigate at the same time, so some type of rotation may be necessary on each lateral.

The water is attached to the land and no water user holds a right superior to another user. Water “shares” are not transferable.

A lateral improved (Piped) through the federal government salinity program will be maintained by the District. The operation of the lateral (scheduling of water use) is governed by the users on the lateral. However, if conflicts arise which can’t be resolved by the water users, the District may step in and restrict usage on the lateral.

Operation and maintenance of private laterals (non-Salinity improved laterals) is the responsibility of water users on the lateral. The District has no responsibility to maintain or regulate private laterals.

A lateral is a pipeline or ditch that conveys water to multiple locations or water users.

Water delivered to a landowner becomes his/her responsibility. Any excess water draining from that land is the landowner’s responsibility. This includes the maintenance and care of the ditch carrying the water to a natural or manmade drainage facility. Maintenance of the waste ditch is a shared responsibility of those who discharge water going into the ditch. The District is not responsible for the maintenance, care or supervision of waster water ditches.

If you are on a Salinity improved lateral, call us at 970-464-4700 and a Field Technician will come out and help get your water shut off. Do not operate underground valves.

Water levels in the canals and laterals can fluctuate. To avoid water pump damage, water users should consider installing a low-pressure cutoff switch. The cost of a cutoff switch is minimal when compared to new pump replacement.

A – The District’s water comes directly from the Colorado River. During the spring runoff and after intense mountain thunderstorms, the river may contain large amounts of silt and debris. Much of the debris is removed by the Grand Valley Water Users trash screen and racks, however silt removal is impossible to remove and all water users must unfortunately share in the burden of dealing with silt in pipes, valves and ditches.

For the most part the District has only an easement for the operation and maintenance of the Price Ditch. The land is actually deeded to the adjoining property owners. Water users may use the roadway to access their headgates for operation and maintenance purposes only. Any other use can be considered trespass by the underlying property owner.