EAST GREENACRES IRRIGATION
DISTRICT HISTORY
Post Falls, Idaho
PREAMBLE - Revised 5-01-07
The East Greenacres Irrigation District is a quasi municipality whose primary function is to provide irrigation water to approximately 5,340 acres of irrigable land within the District boundaries at a maximum rate of 6.4 gallons per minute, per acre, during normal years. It is also the function of the District to provide domestic, municipal and industrial water to those within the District boundaries and within the capacity of the system.
Prior to January 1, 1977, the East Greenacres Irrigation District's water supply came from Twin Lakes and it became quite critical in dry years. To minimize irrigation shortages the District maximized the lake's drawdown. This resulted in conflicts between the District and lakeshore homeowners. Litigation between the two parties resulted in a 1969 ruling by the Idaho First District Court that the use of water from Twin Lakes should be limited to a drawdown of four feet. This judgment was upheld by the Idaho Supreme Court in 1970. This reduced the irrigation water supply by about one-half of the average requirement. Under these conditions the Twin Lakes storage would have been depleted by about July 15, and in some years by June.
On the completion of the well complex and pipe distribution system constructed by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, the Irrigation District no longer used Twin Lakes water. This change permits Twin Lakes to be used exclusively for recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement.
Complete District History: Click Here
Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Overview
