The Price of Poor Irrigation
Federal experts warn that Yakima Valley farmers are drowning their own crops through systemic waste and lack of drainage planning.
The story, cleaned up
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Observations by experts of the Department of Agriculture who have recently visited the Yakima Valley confirm that farmers are annually wasting large quantities of water due to a lack of knowledge in reclaiming semi-arid lands. Farmers are applying water without regard to soil needs, resulting in molding crops and the swamping of low-lying regions. One principal error is the excessive length of lateral canals, which results in over-saturation near the distribution point while the lower ends receive no water. The Department suggests that farmers must study systematic irrigation and that constant supervision is required to ensure even distribution. Without systematic drainage, the valley faces long-term ecological and agricultural damage.
“Too much water is as bad as not enough, possibly worse.”
This 1903 report highlights the early, painful learning curve of irrigation in the high desert of Eastern Washington. Today, the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan remains a critical, ongoing civic struggle over water rights, drought, and agricultural survival.
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