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Mitchell, NE – The Pathfinder Irrigation District will begin delivering water to its users on Monday, May 12, 2025, marking the official start of the 2025 irrigation season. However, not all areas of the District will receive water immediately due to delays caused by the Governor's recent burning ban, which impacted essential system preparation. Some delivery ditches may not be fully operational until as late as Thursday, May 15.

District staff have worked tirelessly under difficult conditions to prepare the system for operation. The District is asking for patience and understanding from all users as they work to restore full service. These delays were beyond our control, and our employees have been going above and beyond to get the system running.

The Bureau of Reclamation has unofficially advised the District that 2025 will be an allocated water year due to unfavorable snowmelt conditions. This means users will be assigned a limited water allotment for the season.

All water, including early water, will be charged against each user's account. Once an individual reaches their allocation, water delivery will be discontinued.

The exact allocation amount has not yet been finalized, but all users are strongly encouraged to manage their water carefully. This is especially important for small acreage landowners, as it is easy to quickly use up an entire seasonal allotment on smaller plots.

Water deliveries are expected to continue through May 30, depending on weather conditions and demand. This schedule is subject to change.

Important Reminder: Users must contact their ditch rider at least 48 hours in advance to order water. Proper notice is essential for efficient and fair distribution.

The Pathfinder Irrigation District remains focused on operating as efficiently and fairly as possible under the circumstances. Users with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the District office or Watermasters directly.

May 5 2025 Press Release.pdf

Ban Lifted

5/1/2025 12:00:00 AM

🔥 Burning Ban Lifted for Irrigation Districts 🔥

We’re happy to share that the burning ban has officially been lifted for the irrigation districts only!

This important change wouldn’t have happened without the tremendous support from our community. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Representative Strommen and Representative Hardin for their strong advocacy and support throughout this process.

We’re also incredibly grateful to the many individuals and organizations that wrote letters, made calls to the Governor’s office, and stood up for our needs—your voices truly made a difference.

Let’s continue working together and staying informed. Thank you again to everyone who helped make this happen!

🔥 Extended Burning Ban: A Serious Concern for Our District 🔥

4/29/2025 12:00:00 AM

We want to inform the District's users that the current burning ban has been extended through May 10th. This extension creates significant challenges for our operations and makes it very unlikely that we’ll be able to prepare our ditches in time for the timely delivery of an early water run.

As many of you know, controlled ditch burning is essential for clearing debris, weeds, and overgrowth that restrict water flow and reduce water quality. Without it, our crews are left with slower, less effective methods that simply can’t match the scale and speed required to get ready for the season.

This delay doesn’t just impact the District it affects every farmer and water user who depends on the timely delivery of water for their livelihood.

We strongly encourage all of our water users to reach out to their local representatives and the Governor’s office to express how this ban and now its extension is affecting you directly. We need your support in urging the Governor to grant an exemption for local irrigation districts. Your voices can help highlight the real-world consequences of these decisions.

📞 Contact Governor Jim Pillen:

Phone: (402) 471-2244

Online Contact Form: https://governor.nebraska.gov/contact-governor

Mailing Address: Office of the Governor P.O. Box 94848 Lincoln, NE 68509-4848
We will continue doing everything we can to prepare under these constraints and advocate for flexibility. We appreciate your understanding and support during this challenging start to the season.