Overview - Public Trust Responsibility - Since 1928

Three legs to the stool: Irrigation - Rehabilitation - Recreation
Three challenges: Water Quality, Excessive Silt, Invasive Weeds

Local growth and prosperity is not an accident. The District has public trust obligations similar to taxing districts such as fire, police or schools. Each rate payer dollar is an investment that remains here.  Every lake project enhances property owner equity. Water recreation supports local business and tourism.  Moses Lake sustains us all.

Since its water right was granted in 1928, projects have been funded by rate payer dedication to a healthy and prosperous community. The first District mission is to provide irrigation water.  Subsequently, the Connelly Park / Airmen’s Beach Recreation Facility was added, along with a great many rehabilitation projects that are more targeted and effective each year.  Read on for a short history of MLIRD.

Click Below to learn more about Moses Lake:

  1. The Early Years 
  2. More History 1986-2000
  3. Managing Unintended Consequences

    4. Irrigation, recreation and care taking of the environmental health of Moses Lake — the crown jewel of our region — all fall under the District’s unique water right and mission.

    Moses Lake is the regional center of our family, school and business lives. Four generations of rate payers have recognized the wisdom of protecting the lake as a long term investment.

    Since 1928, the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District’s legal obligations have expanded to include a delicate balance of social, economic and environmental services for our community. Excess algae growth, sludge and waste pollution were early challenges. Many remedial projects were undertaken and continue today. As water quality standards and recreation uses intensified, managing this precious resource became a complex operation. Soil erosion, silt build up and milfoil are current issues. An alphabet soup of agency permits are now required. Upgrading and maintaining an intricate web of pipes, pumps and dams, replacing worn out equipment and preparing required lake management plans has added more complexity. Recognizing this mix of challenges, district directors made a timely decision in 2007 to recruit a full-time professional to oversee all operations and grow the asset base.