Water will be in the ditch by March 24th, 2026
Board Meeting: April 2, 2026, 6:00 pm, Flora Vista Water Users Office
Board Members
District 1 – John Lofgren (505) 221-0836
District 2 – Dale Rhodes (505) 215-5923
District 3 – David Elder (505) 330-8694
About Farmer's District:
The Farmers Ditch was constructed in 1892, drawing water from the Animas River north of Aztec, and was extended into the Flora Vista area in 1907 ending west of the Barton Arroyo. The 1907 extension (Jones Extension) of the ditch apparently began near the start of the present concrete lined section and continued to the Flora Vista Arroyo. During 1963, the City of Farmington extended the ditch across Flora Vista Arroyo to the city water storage reservoir at Farmington lake.
In 1954, the San Juan County Commission passed a resolution making the Farmer’s Ditch a Special Irrigation District. In General this administrative change allows the District to ad valorem taxes upon all lands in the district, including urban property not irrigated or cultivated. In addition, revenue may be raised by the imposition of tolls and charges. The District is defined as a Special District governed by NMSA 1978, Sections 73-9-1 through 73-9-62 and 73-13-1 through 73-13-46. By-Laws for the District were then updated to meet State Statutes in 1998.
Farmer's Ditch Season Information:
The Farming season begins April 15th and ends October 31st. However, we endeavor to open the ditch by April 1st and depending on weather conditions we may extend the irrigation season past October 31st. We will keep the ditch open as long as the weather permits. Once we have freezing conditions, we will close the ditch. ALL HEADGATES should be closed and stay closed until you need water in the spring.
Opening the ditch by April 1st requires us to begin cleaning the ditch as early as March 1st. Cleaning the ditch requires us to put water in the ditch to push the tumble weeds and debris to clean out spots located thru out the ditch. This means your headgates need to be kept closed at all times.
Nothing should be installed or stored in the ditch that will impede the flow of water. If you have any restriction in the ditch such as a tree down, it is the landowner’s responsibility to remove it. If you need to perform maintenance on your headgate, it is your responsibility to let the Ditch rider or the Board know. All maintenance should be performed in the off season. If you need to replace your headgate. This should be done in the off season, and it requires a permit, detailed plans and a 1-Million-dollar insurance rider. There is a separate section detailing what is needed to replace a headgate. Similarly, installing a bridge requires a permit and detailed plans. If you have any questions, please reach out to your districts board member or the ditch rider. We are all here to help.
*** If you need assistance with the removal of an obstruction such as a tree, a vehicle etc., please call the ditch rider John Lofgren at 505-221-0836.