Territorial Law establishing Irrigation Districts date back to 1886 

For more history please refer to Historic Context of Irrigation in Wy

Irrigation District

 » An organized group that acts to provide water to its shareholders on a proportionate basis.

 » Public, mandatory, and fee collecting entity.

 » Water is allocated by acre.

» Can create rules/bylaws for handling water within their boundaries without outside oversight (governed by statutes; held accountable by Department of Audit)

Mutual Ditch Company

» An organized group that acts to supply and deliver water to its shareholders on a proportionate basis.

 » Private, voluntary, and fee-collecting entity

 » Holds and manages water rights for shareholders who have pro-rata interest (share)

Lateral Ditch Company

» An organized group that acts to provide water to its shareholders and maintains the lateral ditch system.

» Generally smaller and separate legal entities from mutual ditch companies (lateral ditches tend to branch off from mutual ditches).

Ditch Rider/Manager

» Hired by a ditch company or irrigation district to maintain a ditch and open and close headgates,  as necessary.

» Calculates ditch volumes and oversees ditch operations.

» Coordinates water diversions and “calls” with the water commissioner/hydrographer commissioner or the Bureau fo Reclamation during irrigation season.

» Note: sometimes smaller ditch companies use a rotating “ditch captain” to coordinate efforts with the water commissioner.

 Subdivision/homeowner association/etc.

» Can create rules/bylaws for handling irrigation water within their boundaries without outside oversight.

 Spokesperson/Water Master

» An appointed person who speaks with the irrigation district, water commissioner, and/or ditch rider on behalf of the ditch co-owners.

Co-owners

» Individual, small-acreage landowners who have equal water rights and use the same water delivery system » Share the operation and maintenance responsibilities and expenses.

 Source: Wyoming Water Resources Data System (2015)