Per Narrative Statement and History:

The Red Willow Irrigation Project was built in 1939 with the construction of the Chuska Dam and 10,689 feet of 15 inch diameter cement pipe that delivers irrigation water to the open dirt ditches on Red Willow Farm.  Approximately 50,000 feet of dirt ditches served the 1200-acre farm.  By modern standards, the ditches wre not longer efficient and had degraded to a level where operation and maintenance was nog longer feasible.

The Red Willow Farm Board started working to improve the irrigation distribution system on the farm in the late 1970’s.  Many attempts were made by past Red Willow Farm Boards to obtain grants and other types of funding to improve the irrigation distribution system.

Errosion by wind was another problem faced by Red Willow Farmers due to the lack of vegetative cover on productive farmland.  With winter snowpack and monsoon runoff, Chuska Dam could hold enough water to provide irrigated agriculture to Red Willow Farmers, but as soon as water was delivered to the field, the inefficiency of the dirt canals and ditches would create distribution problems and many farmers could not achieve irrigated agriculture production from their fields.

The Red Willow Farm has great signatifant in Navajo history and culture as it was the first area settled by the Navajos after they returned from Fort Summer in 1868.  Many elders recite stories of good harvests and importance of corn, squash, melon, fruit, alfalfa hay and other crops to their lifestyle.  Farming is a part of Navajo culture and tribal elders want young people to continue farming.

1996 Farm Bill & EQIP:

Through the efforts of Red Willow Farm Board, St. Michael Field Office, Navajo Resource Conservation & Development, McKinley County Farm Services Agency, State of New Mexico Office of Indian Affairs and Fort Defiance Soil and Water Conversation District, a partnership was formed. The Objective of the partnership was to develop an Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) proposal to acquire USDA funds to improve irrigation water efficiency or in other words achieve water conservation. Another objective of the partnership was to acquire New Mexico funds to cost-share with USDA-EQIP funds.

Funding and Technical Assistance Sources:

The partnership proved successful, the Red Willow EQIP proposal was funded $225,000 in 1998 and the EQIP funds were available in FY 1999. The Red Willow proposals to New Mexico Office of Indian Affairs through Senator John Pinto net three allocations of $75,000 per fiscal year. St. Micheal Natural Resources Conservation Services provided technical assistance for planning, project feasibility, economic feasibility, data collection, environmental and cultural surveys, engineering and design, implementation, and certification of project completion. Fort Defiance SWCD and Red Willow provided information to “grass roots” farmers and land users. The Red Willow Farm Board was designed as “cooperators” for the EQIP project. The “cooperator” represented 88 plus farmers at Red Willow Farm. The Farm Board held bi-monthly meetings with farmers and presented alternatives to the Red Willow Farmers and their decisions were based upon discussion and vote by Farmers and Farm Board. Red Willow Farm Board was authorized by Red Willow farmers, Tohatchi Chapter, Navajo Nation to make decisions that would affect Red Willow Farm.

Design & Engineering:

The NRCS St. Michael Field Office and Engineering staff completed the Design and Engineering on February 04, 2000 and was presented to the Red Willow Farm Board and Red Willow Farmers during their Farm Board meeting on February 08, 2000. The Design and engineering plans were approved and accepted by the Farm Board and farmers during their meeting. Bid packages and Request for Proposals were sent out to prospective contractors promptly and a deadline was set for February 18, 2000 for all proposals.

Selection of Contractor & Supply Contractor:

Selection of the Contractor & Supply Contractor was completed on February 22, 2000 during the regularly scheduled Farm Board meeting. Closed bids were submitted to the Red Willow Farm Board and were opened during their meeting with all prospective contractors present. Red Willow Farm Board held an executive session and the Farm Board selected Utley Construction of Cortez, Colorado as the contractor for installation and supplier for all materials.

Cultural Resources:

USDA-EQIP program dictates that a “cultural resources survey” be completed and a cultural resources permit be issued by Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department. The cultural resources survey was completed on February 28 to March 03, 2000. The Archeological Information Report was submitted to NN HPD on March 10, 2000 and NN HPD reviewed the report and issued a permit on March 14, 2000.

Project Implementation:

The contractor proceeded with construction on March 15, 2000. Navajo Nation HPD requested NRCS provide an archeologist or archeological technician on-site during excavation and trenching during construction. John Allison; NRCS Archeologist worked with Arizona NRCS office to provide himself, Chris Mclaughlin and eventually James Begay to monitor excavation or trenching. The contractor provided reports to Red Willow Farm Board during their bi-monthly meeting during the months of May, April and May.

Amendment of Design & Engineering:

An amendment to the design was presented to Red Willow Farm Board on April 20, 2000 during the regularly scheduled Farm Board meeting at Tohatchi Chapter House. The design amendment and price quote for the design amendment was approved and accepted by the Farm Board. The amendment was to add 700 feet to the start of the pipeline and add one 8 feet by 8 feet by 8 feet concrete box to dissipate water velocity and pressure from Chuska Dam. Another objective of the concrete box was to build some head pressure for the first 3 farm fields. Norman Utley submitted a quote of $13.500 to the Farm Board and Red Willow Board accepted the quote.

Pipeline Project Certification:

An invoice was delivered to Red Willow Farm Board on April 20, 2000 during the Farm Board meeting,  The invoice was in the amount of $411,161.14 for installation of 33,905 feet 15 inch, 80 psi PVC pipeline. The 15 inch pipeline was installed with all outlets, gate valves, air vacuum valves, pipeline drains, sleeves for road crossings, pressure relief valves and thrust block as designed by NRCS. The Red Willow EQIP project was certified complete by NRCS on April 18, 2000 through CCC-1245 and a check for $225,000 was paid by McKinley County Farm Services Agency on April 27, 2000 to the contractor.

Concrete Box Certification:

The concrete box structure and connections were certified on May 16, 2000 by NRCS. The concrete box structure will not be paid by USDA-EQIP funds, but the Farm Board agreed to abide by NRCS specifications and guidelines for certification.

Irrigations System Demonstration: 

The contractor completed field demonstration day and dedication on May 16, 2000, and there were over 50 people in attendance to view operation of the irrigation system. Gated pipe irrigations, flood irrigation and sprinkler irrigation was demonstrated.

Irrigation System Installation and Balance of NM Funds:

The State of New Mexico through Senator John Pinto granted the Red Willow Farm Board $225,000 and there remains a balance of $186,161.14 owed by Red Willow Farm Board to Utley Construction. There is also a remaining balance of $13,500 for the 8 feet by 8 feet by 8 feet concrete box. A total of $199,661.14 is owed to Utley Construction for the 33,905 feet of 15- inch pipeline and the concrete box.

After $199, 661. 14 is paid to the Utley Construction, there should be balance of $25,338.86 from the State of New Mexico and the Red Willow Farm Board has decided to purchase additional irrigation supplies that will augment their irrigation system.