Farmers, public can help keep canals clean

As irrigation season gets underway, local farmers and Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID) are teaming to prepare and maintain the area ditch networks, and they’re seeking cooperation from all residents to keep the waterways clean and clear.

Jeff Pierce is a local business owner who also operates a small pecan farm south of Las Cruces

“Clean canals and ditches means the water flows freely, which speeds up delivery and makes it quicker to irrigate a field,” he said. 

He said that tumbleweeds and stray vegetation are generally a bigger maintenance problem than trash, but he still finds that “there is always a beer can or two that make it down my way.”

EBID’s essential ditch riders are still managing irrigation orders and driving canals to ensure there are no safety or maintenance problems, said EBID’s Karen Ray, who said the public can help by keeping them free and clean. She said trash in the ditches can become a safety hazard by causing water to back up and overflow the banks, creating flooding problems.

Pierce said his area of the valley is dominated by a Salopek orchard, but every farmer pitches in.

“The ditch rider is usually very good about telling you when mowing debris or tumble weeds are coming down, and he usually says to leave the gate open and let it flow through before taking water from the canal,” Pierce said. “I’m on the same canal as Salopek 6U farms, and those guys are on the ball when heavy cleanup is needed. Great neighbors. There are five of us smaller farmers on the same ditch. Me and one other kind of ramrod things.”

Ray said the public can help farmers like Pierce by watching out and reporting the following to EBID’s main office at 575-526-6671.

• Trash in the canals, including small items but also furniture, mattresses, shopping carts, etc.
• People living in the canals, drains and some of the box structures (mostly within city limits)
• * Illegally dumped hazardous materials (i.e., needles) within city limits.

Ray said hot weather coincides with the advent of cooling water in the canal system during irrigation season.

“This year, with kids out of school and many people at home, makes it critical that families have that safety talk with their children. Don’t play in the canals and ditches, it is dangerous. Undercurrents and metal gates can become a life-threatening hazard to people in the water. Canal walls, both dirt and concrete, become slippery and can make it extremely difficult to climb out,” she said. “Please be aware that bacteria in the irrigation water and fertilizers delivered through the water in the canals are all dangerous to human beings.

Pierce agreed and summed it up this way: “This is water we're talking about. Keep the water clean, no dumping. Very important.”

For more information on irrigation schedules and ditch/canal issues, visit EBID’s FaceBook page or website at www.ebid-nm.org.