Irrigation districts have many benefits. But just how much land is required to form one?It is surprising, but Oregon law contains no minimum acreage requirement for irrigation district formation! In the early 1900s when irrigation districts sprang up all over western United States, some in connection with projects constructed by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, most covered large spans of territory. According to a 1917 government study, the smallest U.S. irrigation district at that time was 500 acres. Today most irrigation districts in Oregon cover anywhere from hundreds to hundred thousands of acres of land. However, this does not mean a group seeking to form an irrigation district needs to be so large. Because the law does not require a minimum number of acres to form a district, it is worth considering the benefits of irrigation district formation of any size.
A comprehensive look at forming an irrigation district and the unique benefits there of can be found in a new guide and handbook called “Irrigation Districts: The HOW, WHAT , WHO, WHEN and WHY Guide and Handbook for Irrigation District in Oregon. To learn more about this handbook please contact me at Cortney@water.law.com.
