For upward of a decade, Pine River Irrigation District has let late or delinquent shareholder payments slide.
It makes the notice of exclusion – informing six landholders that they are set to be excised from the irrigation district for nonpayment – a rare occurrence.
PRID has historically been extraordinarily lenient in that respect. Any formal action has been limited to letters notifying members that they are behind on their payments, said Ken Beck, PRID superintendent.
But now, with some shareholders owing up to 15 years in annual payments, it is time to take more formal action and inform them they will be kicked out of the district if they don’t pay.
“We’re darn compassionate about it, but we just can’t keep doing it when it’s a no-win deal,” he said.
Pine River shareholders are those who have rights to the water that flows downstream from Vallecito Reservoir. Each shareholder pays an annual, flat fee of $100 on top of their individual water costs.
There are costs of managing a reservoir and keeping the district operating that shareholders must chip in on, Beck said.
The district operates under the 1921 Irrigation Act, which requires notification and legal action if payments are not met.
“We will still work with people in any way, shape or form to help them, if they’re willing to make some payments,” Beck said. “But your payments got to be big enough to where you’re sincere about bringing the debt into full payment.”
If the delinquent shareholders do not pay within the set grace period of roughly two months, their share of water will be reallocated to people who are on the waitlist for water.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
