Pathfinder Irrigation District

05/06/2026

The Pathfinder Irrigation District has made the 2026 Irrigation Season Outlook letter available on our website for your convenience.

Landowners and water users are encouraged to print a copy to provide to their crop insurance agent if needed.

You can access and print the letter at: pathfinderirrigation.com, or pick up a copy at our Mitchell office.

Please contact our office if you have any questions. We appreciate your cooperation.

05/01/2026

Understanding Total Allocation vs. Delivery Allocation
There are two important concepts to understand when talking about irrigation water: total allocation and delivery allocation (or delivery limit).
Total Allocation
When the district announces an initial allocation based on Bureau forecasts, this refers to the total amount of water a user is allowed per acre for the entire season that has been forecasted.
• In a normal year with no restrictions, the allocation is typically 3 acre-feet per acre or 36 inches of moisture.
• However, most users don’t actually apply that much. On average, a user in an unrestricted year applies around 1.8 acre-feet per acre or 20 inches of moisture.
This year, due to severe drought, the forecasted allocation for PID is 0.60 acre-feet per acre or 7.2 inches of moisture.
To calculate your total water for the season:
• Multiply the allocation by your irrigated acres.
• Example:
o 80 acres × 0.60 = 48 acre-feet total allocation
Water Use at the Weir (Flow Rate)
Water delivered over a weir is measured in cubic feet per second (CFS), typically calculated in 12-hour increments.
• 1 CFS for 12 hours = 1 acre-foot
• So, 1 CFS running continuously for 24 hours (two 12-hour periods) = 2 acre-feet per day
Using the same 80-acre example:
• Example 1:
o Total allocation = 48 acre-feet
o Daily use at 1 CFS = 2 acre-feet per day
o 48 ÷ 2 = 24 days of water
• Example 2:
o Total allocation = 48 acre feet
o Daily use at.90 CFS =1.8 accre-feet per day
o 48 ÷ 1.8 = 26.7 Days of water
The flow rate the user chooses will determine how many days of water he or she will have.
Delivery Allocation (Delivery Limit)
Delivery allocation is not the total amount of water you get. Instead, it’s the rate at which you are allowed to take water during delivery.
• In a normal year, the delivery limit is usually 1 CFS per 80 acres.
• In drier years, the district may reduce this rate—for example, to 0.90 CFS per 80 acres—to stretch the water supply and deliver water over a longer period.
This should not be confused with total allocation:
• Total allocation = how much water you get for the entire season
• Delivery allocation (limit) = how fast you can take that water at any given time
This Year’s Expectation
Due to drought conditions, the district will likely begin with a delivery limit of 0.90 CFS per 80 acres, aiming to maintain that level and avoid further reductions if possible.

04/27/2026

The Board of Directors of Pathfinder Irrigation District held a special meeting today, April 27, 2026, to discuss the timing of the 2026 irrigation season.

After careful consideration and with input from District water users, the Board has established a tentative delivery start date during the first week of July.

Based on the current forecast, the District anticipates an allocation of approximately 0.60 acre-feet per acre. This allocation may be adjusted if conditions change or circumstances warrant.

At this time, the Board of Directors is not in favor of borrowing water for the 2026 irrigation season. However, this position may also be reconsidered if weather conditions or other circumstances change.

While this provides a general outlook, please be advised that weather conditions and other operational factors will influence final decisions. Accordingly, both the delivery schedule and allocation remain subject to change.

The District remains committed to keeping all users informed and will provide updates as additional information becomes available.

04/22/2026

The Board of Directors for Pathfinder Irrigation District will be holding a special meeting on April 27 to discuss how the district will move forward for the 2026 irrigation season.

During this meeting, it will be determined if and when the district will begin running water. This information will help the District's users make informed decisions about how to proceed with their farming operations.

Decisions will be based on the information available to the board at the time of the meeting. As we all know, conditions can change, but it is important to make a timely decision for our users.

04/09/2026

03/30/2026

Clarification Regarding Previous District Notice

The District would like to clarify the intent of the recent information regarding the nozzling and operation of center pivots.
The information provided was not meant to indicate or predict the District’s water outlook for the upcoming irrigation season. The District will make a determination at its May Board Meeting regarding if and when water will be run, based on the water that is available at that time.
The purpose of the previous notice was simply to provide guidance in the event the District does begin delivering water. If water is run this season, the District anticipates that the system will need to be operated as efficiently as possible due to the likelihood of a limited supply. Under those circumstances, it may be necessary for the District to reduce allocations to 0.90 feet per 80 acres in order to stretch the available supply through the irrigation season.
If that occurs, the information provided in the previous letter regarding proper pivot nozzling and accurate measurement will become important to ensure the system operates efficiently and that water can be distributed as fairly as possible among all users.
The District will continue to monitor conditions closely and will provide additional updates following the May Board Meeting.
We appreciate the cooperation and understanding of all District users.

03/30/2026

As we move into what is shaping up to be a very tight water year, the District wants to remind all users of important guidelines regarding the nozzling and operation of center pivots.
Historically, we have recommended that all pivots be nozzled to deliver 0.90 feet of water per 80 acres. This recommendation was made specifically to prepare for years like this one, where water supply is limited. Based on current conditions, the District will likely be reducing allocations to 0.90 feet per 80 acres, rather than the normal 1.0 foot.
In this circumstance, the District will be enforcing the 0.90 feet per 80 acres standard on all pivots. Attempting to rotate water while maintaining pivots set for 1.0 foot per 80 acres does not allow the system to operate efficiently or extend the available water supply across the full irrigation season. Proper nozzling is essential to ensure fair and effective distribution for all users.
Additionally, we need to address the issue of pivot pits backing into the weir when overflowing to irrigate corners. This practice will no longer be allowed. Any water measured at the weir will be charged accordingly, and the District will not estimate or adjust for unmeasured usage. In a year with such a limited supply, accurate measurement is critical.
We understand these measures may require adjustments, but they are necessary to manage the available water responsibly. Cooperation from all users will be essential to make this irrigation season as efficient and productive as possible.
If you have questions or need assistance adjusting your system, please contact the District.
Thank you for your cooperation.

03/24/2026

Water Supply Update – Pathfinder Irrigation District
Pathfinder Irrigation District provides this information to address questions regarding the current water season. As is widely known, the District is facing a water supply that appears to be significantly below normal. The District hopes that this update will help address concerns and reduce the spread of misinformation regarding the District’s available supply.
At the time of this update, the District has approximately 25 days of water available in the reservoirs, which is well below average for this point in the season.
The District has received many inquiries from users wanting to know how many days of water will be available so they can plan accordingly. The District understands the importance of this information and appreciates the professionalism and patience shown by its users.
However, due to the unusual weather patterns experienced this year, there is limited historical data available to provide a reliable estimate. At this time, there are too many variables to accurately determine how much water the District will receive from mountain snowmelt.
Key factors include temperature patterns in the mountains. Warmer temperatures, particularly when accompanied by mild nighttime conditions, typically result in more efficient runoff. In contrast, cooler days with freezing nights can slow the melt and allow moisture to be absorbed into the ground. Spring weather events also play an important role—timely precipitation can improve runoff efficiency, while continued dry conditions can negatively impact it.
Current snowpack levels further illustrate the uncertainty. At the time of this report, the Upper Platte basin is at 61% of normal, the Sweetwater basin is at 86% of normal, and the Lower Platte basin is at 32% of normal. These levels will ultimately depend on spring conditions and how efficiently the snowpack transitions into usable runoff. We get the vast majority of our water from the Upper and Lower North Platte regions.
The District was able to carry over between seven and ten days of water from the previous season. Even with this carryover, the total number of irrigation days remains uncertain due to the variability in projected runoff. For perspective, projections for Upper Platte runoff currently range from approximately 100,000 acre-feet to as much as 620,000 acre-feet, compared to a long-term average of around 705,000 acre-feet.
At the April board meeting, the Bureau of Reclamation will present an updated forecast of the expected water supply based on the most recent data available. Pathfinder Irrigation District will share this updated information with its users as soon as it becomes available.
While the District remains hopeful, current weather patterns have consistently tracked below average. It is important to recognize the possibility that these conditions may persist.
There has also been discussion regarding the potential to borrow water from the Kendrick Project. While this option exists, the amount available is limited and must be shared among all 13 districts. Any borrowed water must be repaid from the very first of next year’s runoff and includes both the return of water and a financial cost associated with lost power generation revenue. The District is actively evaluating the financial implications of this option and exploring available resources to help offset these costs, with the aim of minimizing the burden on District users.
The District’s Board of Directors will make a final decision on how the water season will be managed at the May board meeting. While it is recognized that this timing is later than preferred, the number of unknown variables at this point makes it impractical to make a responsible decision any sooner.
The District will continue to monitor conditions closely and provide updates as more reliable information becomes available. In the meantime, Pathfinder Irrigation District remains committed to managing this water supply as effectively and responsibly as possible. Every effort is being made to maximize the water available and to support our users through the challenges of this season. We appreciate your continued patience, cooperation, and understanding as we work through these conditions together.

03/23/2026

03/05/2026

We want to provide an update regarding the uncertainty of this year’s irrigation water supply.
Current reports show the Upper Platte Basin at 72% of average snowpack, while the Lower Platte Basin is at 44%. The District is closely monitoring the weekly reports and all available information regarding conditions in the mountains.
Based on the Bureau of Reclamation forecast issued on March 5, 2026, if the next two months receive average snowfall, we are currently looking at approximately 40–45 days of irrigation water, including carryover from last year.
We recognize that 40–45 days of water is not enough to grow a full crop, and we understand the seriousness of this situation for our producers. The District and the Board are actively reviewing all available information and considering every possible option moving forward.
Due to the timing of the snowmelt season, a final decision may not be made before May 5, unless there is a significant improvement in the mountain snowpack.
We realize this is a very difficult and uncertain time for all of our users. Please know that the District will continue monitoring all available reports and information and will provide updates as they become available.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.

02/17/2026

I’ve received several comments from water users indicating we will have at least 71% of our water supply next season. I want to clarify that this is not guaranteed.

The 71% figure is based on the Bureau of Reclamation's February forecast. This is only a projection and is based on the assumption that the remainder of the snow season will follow the 30-year average. So far, this year’s weather has not followed average patterns, which makes it unlikely—though still possible—that conditions will suddenly return to average in the coming months.

Because of this trend, I want our users to understand that the current outlook could change, and the final water supply may end up lower than the present forecast. While we remain hopeful for improved snowpack, it is too early to know for certain.

Pathfinder Irrigation District will continue to monitor conditions closely and will share updates as new information becomes available.