On Saturday, May 30, 2020, Radar Pumping Plant in South Columbia Basin Irrigation District (SCBID) was struck by lightning, disintegrating a bus conductor and disabling the facility. In this interview by Irrigation Leader magazine, Dave Solem, SCBID Secretary/Manager, describes the event and the District’s actions to promptly resume water delivery.

Wenatchee World Newspaper reported Nathaniel Washington Sr. and Jr. will be recognized for their advocacy of hydropower and infrastructure advancement. Grand Coulee Dam’s third power plant will be “Nathaniel ‘Nat"‘ Washington” in their honor. To read the article, click here.

As the end of the 2020 irrigation season approaches, the South Columbia Basin Irrigation District (SCBID) will soon scale back ditchrider service from 6 days to 5 days per week. This is done annually as irrigation water demand declines. Full Saturday service will be provided though September 12th. After that date, ditchrider service will be available Monday through Friday.

The final day to order water delivery changes will be Monday, October 19th. On Tuesday, October 20th, ditchriders will close all farm unit and water service contract turnouts as they begin to drain the canal system.

Questions pertaining to the water shutoff dates and Saturday ditch rides may be answered by calling Dave Solem at the South Columbia Basin Irrigation District, (509) 547-1735. For emergencies that arise outside of our normal business hours, you may also call this number and wait for the appropriate prompts to reach your watermaster office.