The Yakima Reservation Irrigation District (YRID.) was formed in 1912, as the Yakima Reservation Water User’s Association. This was changed in 1920, pursuant to the laws of the State of Washington, to assist the members thereof in their relationships with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Wapato Irrigation Project. Almost all of the Y.R.I.D. is within the boundaries of the W.I.P. The Yakama Reservation Irrigation District again changed its name in the late 2000’s. At that time the YRID changed the spelling from Yakima Reservation Irrigation District to the Yakama Reservation Irrigation District to more closely align and demonstrate its connection with the Yakama Reservation. This spelling more closely conforms to the spelling of the Yakama Indian Nation.
As of 2010, there is a total of 54,975.52 acres within the boundaries of the YRID. These acreages are all “fee” lands, located in a “checkerboard” fashion within the boundaries of the district. These “fee” lands are held by the successors in interest to the original allottees, both Indian and non-Indian. (The YRID represents only those persons assessed by it.)
The YRID does not manage, control, operate or maintain any of the diversion or distribution facilities within its boundaries. All of this is under the direct supervision and control for the W.I.P., operating only subject to the U. S. obligations to the YRID members.
The Yakama Reservation Irrigation District (YRID) was created to represent the interests of the fee land owners within the boundaries of the Yakama Indian Reservation in, primarily, their dealing with the Wapato Irrigation Project, but also in other issues related to the irrigation and farming practices on the Yakama Reservation.
As the WIP system developed and came into operation, it became apparent that there was a need for the fee landowners to be represented in the operation of the WIP system by an organization that would look out for those farmers’ interest. The Yakama Indian Nation, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, was the influential party in the operation of the WIP system. The fee landowners quickly discovered that their interest, as a group, was not being represented. As the fee landowners were the primary users and supporters of the system, in an effort to ensure the representation those fee landowners in the operation of the WIP, the fee landowners formed the Yakama Reservation Irrigation District.
Over the years YRID has continued to represent the fee landowners on global issues facing irrigators on the Reservation, including issues related to the operation of WIP. YRID attempts to review O&M assessments and work with WIP to optimize the operation of the system for the maximum benefit of all landowners within the Reservation. YRID pursues issues related to the idle lands on the reservation and appraisal inequities that are currently harming the financial base of the WIP. An example of YRID’s work can be found in YRID’s successful efforts to gain funding for repairs to the WIP’s delivery system needed after damage suffered during the floods of 1996. YRID was instrumental in procuring funding for the repairs necessary, such repairs which are still ongoing throughout the WIP system. YRID has representatives from the Yakama Indian Nation, WIP and Yakama Power attend YRID’s monthly meetings to discuss the operation of the WIP system and problems facing water user on the Reservation.
YRID also represents its member landowners in the Acquavella adjudication. In 1977 the Washington State Department of Ecology instituted suit to determine the water rights of all landowners in the Yakima River Basin. YRID appeared and represented the interests of its member landowners and gained a Summary Judgment Order on behalf of the members holding water contracts with WIP. YRID continues to represent the interest of those landowners with WIP contracts in this ongoing adjudication.
YRID also represents its member landowners in some of the larger issues which are facing all irrigators in the Yakima River Basin. Just a few of the issues that YRID is currently dealing with include the Endangered Species Act and its effect on future irrigation, dam breaching, water quality and water expense and availability as well as the ongoing Yakima River Basin Water Enhance Project (YRBWEP) workgroups and studies. Representatives of YRID’s Board have attended and voiced irrigators’ concerns regarding the possible breaching of the Keecheles Dam and the loss of that water for irrigation purposes as well as the potential changes that will occur to water delivery as provided for in the project plan being forward by the YRBWEP work groups. YRID has also taken an active interest in the development of a water quality program on the Reservation. YRID is working with the Yakama Indian Nation to institute a water quality program that is effective and makes sense to the on-farm users. In short, YRID represents irrigators’ interests on the global issues facing water users farming within the boundaries of the Yakama Reservation on a daily basis both today and into the future.
The role of YRID in its representation of the fee land owners on the Reservation is significant in light of the number of acres and parcels of property that are part of YRID and the number of productive acres on the Reservation that are operated by the non-Indian irrigators. According to the crop production reports for year 2000, there was approximately 122,830.34 acres of land in production on the Yakama Reservation. This acreage has increased since that time as additional acres are brought out of idle status and put into production by non-Indian farmers. Of the acres farmed, when taking into account the land either leased by non-Indians or owned by non-Indians, 78.6% of all agricultural property in production for the year 2000 was under production by non-Indian operators. YRID represents the interest of those non-Indian operators in the global issues that face irrigators in the Yakima River Basin. It should also be noted that the funds collected by the WIP for its operations are paid by these water users. As such, the majority of the funds that are available to the WIP to funds its operations on a year to year basis are paid by the non-Indian operators located within the boundaries of the Yakama Reservation.
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