August 13, 2001
John Redding
(208) 378-5212
Jerrold Gregg
(208) 334-1460

Reclamation Transfers Title

The Bureau of Reclamation officially transferred title to certain water delivery systems to the Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District as part of an initiative to transfer title to facilities that can be effectively managed by non-federal entities.

Reclamation is in the process of transferring title to facilities to local irrigation entities throughout the western United States in accordance with the National Performance Review goal of a federal government to find ways to work better with less costs to the taxpayer.

NMID diverts water from the Boise River into a system of canals and laterals known as the Ridenbaugh Canal system for delivery to lands in the district, and provides drainage for district lands through a system of drain ditches. No water rights, water storage rights or water storage facilities will be transferred or affected by the action.

Since 1878, when the Ridenbaugh Canal was first constructed, NMID and its private predecessors have been responsible for operating and maintaining NMID’s delivery and drainage systems.

NMID’s boundaries encompass approximately 125 square miles in Ada and Canyon counties in southwestern Idaho, delivering water to about 64,000 irrigable acres. Most of the cities of Boise, Nampa, and Meridian fall within NMID boundaries. The lands that NMID serves are located south of the Boise River.

NMID has met its repayment obligation to the United States for construction of the transferred segments. Public input to the transfer was sought and comments recorded in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.