April 30, 2026 News

OMID 2026 Irrigation Season Outlook

What to Expect & How to Plan

Current Conditions

• Flows on the Colorado River at Cameo are as low as this community has ever experienced.
• In 131 years of records this is the 29^th driest water year and the warmest water year on record.,
• Reservoir storage was nearly depleted entering the irrigation season and unexpectedly did not refill
• 2026 has already seen record-breaking early-season heat

This is unprecedented

• Record March heat quickly turned a dry year into an unprecedented condition.
• OMID has been monitoring and preparing for a dry year based on historical data. The March heat wave and low runoff efficiency are something we have not experienced before.
• 2026 is shaping up to exceed the severity of any irrigation season prior—

How the System Works (And Why It Matters This Year)

• OMID operates on volume and canal elevation to deliver water to headgates
• Headgates are set to deliver each user’s allocated water right—this is our primary control
• When supply is short, deliveries may be reduced below the 100%+ levels many are accustomed to
• It is not unrealistic to expect up to a 50% reduction—it will depend entirely on real-time conditions

Deliveries are directly tied to available supply. As supply drops, so do deliveries.

What This Means for You

• Expect a shorter, less reliable irrigation season
•  it is very likely that there will be outages and/or major shortages within the OMID system this year
• It would be a prudent decision to delay planting new crops this year where/when possible
• All users should be prepared for impacts
• The driest period is typically July through early September—and this year we may see that sooner and likely it will be more severe, August and September deliveries may be dependent upon monsoon storms
• Conditions may change quickly and unpredictably

Shared Responsibility on Laterals

• Each lateral will receive a fixed volume of water when available
• It is the responsibility of users on that lateral to manage and distribute that water fairly

Recommended approach:

• Coordinate with neighbors and fellow users
• Set a schedule or rotation within your lateral
• Develop a communication chain (texts, calls, etc.)
• Prioritize critical uses, perennial crops and young plantings when possible. Consider foregoing irrigation on low value crops.

Due to how the canal system is built, alternating day delivery at individual headgates is not practical. Local coordination is essential.

• Subdivisions and HOA groups will need to actively manage their own distribution within these constraints

System Impacts Already Occurring

• Reduced flows are impacting diversion efficiency
• Increased algae and sediment challenges
• OMID’s hydropower plant is not currently generating due to low water conditions

How OMID Is Responding

• Monitoring supply conditions daily, adjusting to reservoir releases, river calls and upstream operations
• Operating and planning with other water users in the Grand Valley
• Adjusting deliveries to stretch available water as far as possible
• Communicating updates through:
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Notices at headgates (tags, markers, written notes)
• Operating within the priority system for fair and lawful distribution

 

What We Ask of Irrigators

• Plan conservatively—assume reduced supply and duration
• Be efficient from the start of the season
• Coordinate, cooperate, and communicate with others on your lateral
• Be mindful in your water use—every action matters in a year like this

Bottom Line

This is an unprecedented water year. Conditions are worse than anything in recent history, and outcomes are difficult to predict. OMID will continue to manage the system proactively and transparently, but success this season will depend heavily on shared responsibility among all water users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will water be shut off?
A: There is no set date. Conditions depend on weather, runoff, and river calls. Changes may happen quickly.

Q: Can you tell us what percentage shortage to expect?
A: No. Shortages will vary depending on real-time supply and demand conditions.

Q: Will there be irrigation rotations?
A: Possibly at the lateral level. OMID does not control individual rotations—users must coordinate locally. There may also be rotations at the District level, whether it is alternating at the Headgates or on a Canal 1/Canal 2 level, we are unsure at this time but will communicate as quickly as possible and these actions may change daily.

Q: Why can’t OMID schedule water like cities do?
A: The canal system is designed to deliver continuous flow by volume and elevation, making alternating-day delivery at individual headgates impractical.

Q: Who decides how water is shared on a lateral?
A: The users on that lateral. Cooperation and coordination are essential.

Q: Why isn’t the hydropower plant running?
A: Flows are too low. The Vinelands Power Plant water rights may come in and out of priority this season. There may be intermittent periods where we are able to run the Vinelands Power Plant, dependent upon water supply.

Q: What should I be doing right now?
A: Plan for less water, coordinate with neighbors, and use water as efficiently as possible.

Stay Updated:
Follow OMID communications and watch for notices at your headgate.