CALL TO ORDER: Board Chairman Charles Miller called the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Hermiston Irrigation District to order at 6:05 p.m. in the Hermiston Irrigation District shop building. Also present at the meeting were Board Members Mike Bergstrom and Len Jeppeson; District Manager, Chuck Wilcox; Field Manager, Jeff Eicher; Recording Secretary, Annette Rambel, guest speakers, Jeremy Morris with Anderson-Perry & Associates and Said Amali with IRZ Consulting; HID’s office staff; 3 members of the HID field crew and approximately 70 patrons and guests.

INTRODUCTIONS: Chairman Miller introduced the Board members and Managers. Manger Wilcox introduced the office staff. Field Manager Eicher introduced the members of the field crew that were present.

DINNER: The Steak & Beans Bar-B-Q Dinner was prepared and served by FFA members and alumni.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS: Chairman Miller stated that last year the District celebrated 100 years of water delivery service and this year we are celebrating the replacement of a critical piece of the District’s 100 year old infrastructure. He then introduced our guest speakers.

DROP STRUCTURE PRESENTATION BY ANDERSON-PERRY: Jeremy Morris showed a PowerPoint presentation about the Drop Structure Project that was completed in November 2008. The Drop Structure was originally designed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and was constructed in 1908. The BOR documented concerns about the condition of the structure as early as 1943. Maintenance has been performed on the structure numerous times over the years. In 2005 Anderson-Perry conducted a Feasibility Study of the structure and in 2008 a large portion of the 100 year old structure was replaced by Swaggart Bros. Construction.

WATER RECHARGE PRESENTATION BY IRZ CONSULTING: Said Amali showed a PowerPoint presentation on the outcome of SB 1069, a water recharge project study in the Umatilla Basin.

As aquifers and irrigation wells are becoming depleted, stakeholders and governments are looking for alternative and innovative solutions to meet the demand for water. Following the passage of the Agriculture and Community Water Act of 2008 (SB 1069) by the Oregon Legislature, IRZ Consulting was awarded a contract to conduct the Umatilla Basin Recharge Project study.

IRZ’s proposed Aquifer Storage and Recovery system would transport 50,000 to 100,000 acre-feet of water from the Columbia River each winter when water levels are high, store it in underground aquifer recharge areas and then release it in the summer for agricultural use. The system would use existing infrastructure to transport the water both to and from the aquifer.

The result is a sustainable solution to Oregon’s water resource shortages; maximized agricultural production; a boost to Oregon’s economy; and a case study for agricultural regions across the globe on how to potentially address agriculture’s future water shortage challenges.

MAINTENANCE REPORT: Field Manger Eicher informed the patrons that the crew is busy putting in screens, cleaning, burning, making repairs and installing new diversions. He requested that maintenance issues be reported as soon as possible to give him time to schedule the work.

WATER REPORT: Manager Wilcox gave report on the current water situation. The irrigation season is expected to start in the first to mid part of April.

ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Miller adjourned the Annual Meeting at approximately 8:15 pm.

_______________________________             ________________________________

Charles Miller                                                      Annette V. Rambel

Chairman                                                             Recording Secretary

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