CWFClearwater Farms Unit 1
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Irrigation Basics

Contents

Irrigation Basics

Understanding Irrigation

Depending on the season, our irrigation comes from either:

  • Lake Pleasant via a network of concrete canals operated by Maricopa Water District (MWD)
  • Groundwater wells pumping to the same canal system

It is delivered to our irrigation systems through two 4-foot square concrete boxes:

  1. Box 10-1: Located at Northern Avenue and Perryville Road
  2. Box 10-3: Located at Northern Avenue at 183rd Avenue and Northern

Each box directs the flow south towards Ditch 9 of our system. Ditch 9 runs parallel to Northern Avenue and along the canal on the south side of Northern to our system. There are nine (9) miles of irrigation conveyance ditches and 16 head gates in CFPAO#1.

Safety Note: The running water may look inviting to children, so please advise them to stay out of the ditches.

MWD Control Box 10-1

  • Serves Ditches 9 and 1-4.
  • Water flows south of Northern to the intersection of Ditch 9 (north to south) and Ditch 1 (west to east).
  • Head gates (drop gates) are located at the intersection of Ditch 9 and Ditches 1-4 (Perryville to 182nd service road).
  • To run Ditch 1:
    • Raise the gate on Ditch 1 to allow flow to the south.
    • Close the gate for Ditch 9 to prevent water from flowing east along Ditch 9.
  • When all users on Ditch 1 finish irrigating:
    • Raise the gate to Ditch 9 and close the gate to Ditch 1, allowing water to flow east along Ditch 9.
  • Ditch 9 serves properties along Northern Avenue. When the last user on Ditch 9 (before Ditch 2) finishes irrigation, water flows to Ditch 2.
  • To run Ditch 2:
    • Open Ditch 2 and close Ditch 9 to force water to flow south down Ditch 2.
  • This process repeats until all users along Ditch 9 and Ditches 1-4 are served.

MWD Control Box 10-3

  • Serves Ditches 9 and 5-8 (185th Avenue to 178th service road).
  • Water flows south of Northern to the intersection of Ditch 9 (north to south) and Ditch 5 (west to east).
  • The same order of operation as above is used to deliver water to Ditch 5, then Ditch 9 between 5 and 6, then Ditch 6, and so on until users on Ditch 9 and Ditches 5-8 are all served.

Water Delivery Details

  • We can only deliver what MWD provides.
  • New Federal guidance requires MWD to provide a specific 90-inch head of water, with a possibility of a 10% overage.
  • Prior deliveries were either 70-inch or 140-inch head from Lake Pleasant, and 85-inch head from groundwater wells.
  • The current head is delivered at a constant 90-inch head and is frequently monitored by MWD and CFPOA 1 irrigation volunteers.

Variables Affecting Irrigation Effectiveness

  • Height of grass or vegetation (affects water flow across the property).
  • Time since the last irrigation (soil moisture).
  • Ambient air temperature.
  • Wind speed.
  • Proper lot leveling.

Eligibility for Irrigation

To be eligible to order and receive irrigation water, members must be in “Good Standing” (By-Laws Article I, para 10), meaning:

  • Current with association dues.
  • Not significantly in arrears for irrigation payments (late payments, returned checks, etc.).

Ordering Irrigation

  • Sign up no later than 7 PM on the Monday prior to the next irrigation cycle.
  • Sign up at the sheet located at 7212 North 181st Avenue or online using the website or mobile app.
  • Payment: Online payment is not currently available. Submit a check or money order to P.O. Box 597, Waddell, AZ 85355.
  • Check your irrigation balance frequently to ensure you are not behind on payments. If payment is not received, irrigation water may be denied (CC&Rs 6.0, 9.0; By-Laws Article VIII, paras 4 & 5).

Preparing for Irrigation

Eligible members must:

  1. Prepare their property:
    • Laser level the irrigated portion of the property.
    • Ensure adequate dirt berms are in place to retain water.
    • Install a drop gate or purchase a “check” to stop the flow in the ditch.
  2. Pay for the number of hours of water ordered when signing up.
  3. Send payment to P.O. Box 597, Waddell, AZ 85355 or use the website/online app when available.
  4. First-time irrigators: Contact the Board or current Irrigation Volunteer for guidance.

Irrigation Timing

  • Based on:
    • When MWD delivers water to the CFPOA#1 system.
    • The number of members signed up for irrigation.
    • The order of delivery to the specific ditch you are on.
  • Once the sign-up sheet is removed, you are responsible for the water ordered, regardless of the scheduled delivery time.
  • The irrigation schedule is typically posted by Thursday evening of the week prior to irrigation but may occur on Friday or Saturday.

Understanding Designations

The designations on the website (first, crossover, last) refer to the order in which water is delivered through the irrigation system. These designations help ensure an equitable distribution of water to all members.

  • First: Members closest to the gate changes on Ditch 9 that divert water to their property. They receive water first in the irrigation cycle.
  • Crossover: Members closest to Orangewood (or the water crossovers under 185th and 183rd) who receive water first after this crossover point.
  • Last: Members who should not remove their checks at the end of their cycle. After their schedule, the water moves on to the next ditch.

Depending on your assigned designation, a gate change may be needed to direct the flow of water appropriately.

Volunteer Efforts and Compensation

We rely on volunteers to keep our community running smoothly and to keep costs down. To encourage participation, we are now offering members $5 water credits for helping with gate changes and crossover checks.

What’s Required:

  • Open the next gate and close the previous one.
  • Gates are vertical and operated with a crank to open and close.

If you’re interested, consider signing up for upcoming opportunities to help with irrigation.

Rollout of Changes

We have been slowly rolling out these changes to improve the irrigation process and ensure that our volunteer workload is shared equitably among members. This includes:

  1. Introduction of a volunteer signup sheet.
  2. Addition of member designations (first, crossover, last).
  3. Inclusion of [Acknowledge] or [Request Assistance] buttons in scheduling emails.

These steps are designed to make the process more efficient, transparent, and fair for everyone.

Support and Assistance

If you are uncomfortable making the gate change yourself or need assistance, please let us know. There are many volunteers in the community who are willing to help, and we can arrange support as needed.

Responsibilities

  • Submit payment for the irrigation ordered when signing up (or pay in advance).
  • Order water before 7 PM Monday evening.
  • Cannot cancel water once ordered. If you cannot take the water, find a neighbor to take the excess or contact the Board for suggestions.
  • Cannot transfer water to members not in good standing (marked as “Restricted” on the sign-up list).
  • Check the schedule by Thursday to confirm your delivery time at www.clearwaterfarmsunit1.com.
  • Maintain your property:
    • Trim trees, bushes, grass, and debris to a height of at least 6 feet to allow access to the road and ditch.
    • Failure to maintain the area may result in a $50 fine and/or restricted irrigation access until resolved.
  • Remove debris from your section of the ditch (do not send it downstream).
  • Open irrigation ports, lower your gate, or set your check before the scheduled delivery time.
  • Raise your gate or check at the conclusion of your irrigation time.
  • Address upstream issues: If the upstream irrigator fails to raise their gate or remove their check, wait a minute or two before raising it yourself.

Troubleshooting

  • If you feel you are not receiving the proper flow or “head” of water:
    1. Check upstream for:
      • A previous irrigator leaving their check in the ditch.
      • Debris piles restricting flow at crossovers or choke points.
    2. Contact the current irrigation volunteer assigned to your irrigation time.