What is an irrigation district, and what are its assessments?
An irrigation district is a local government entity that holds water rights or federal project contracts and delivers water to farms inside its boundaries. Members pay assessments — commonly $20 to $250 per acre per year plus per-acre-foot delivery charges — and unpaid assessments become liens on the land, often senior to a mortgage. Turnrow verifies district standing on every district-served loan.
District water is contract water, not a right you own outright. Your entitlement is an allocation set by the district each year based on its supply, and it stays with land inside the boundary — you generally cannot sell it separately or take it with you. Allocation history matters: a district that delivered 100% in nine of the last ten years is a different asset than one that delivered 40% twice.
Assessments come in layers: a standby or per-acre charge owed whether or not you take water, volumetric delivery charges, and sometimes bond assessments for canal or pipeline projects. Federal project districts (Bureau of Reclamation) add contract repayment obligations and, in some cases, acreage limitation rules from reclamation law.
Due diligence is straightforward: call the district office, confirm the parcel is in good standing, get the last 10 years of allocation percentages, current assessment schedule, and any planned bond measures. Ask specifically about delinquencies — district liens prime most private liens, which is why every ag lender checks.
The Turnrow angle
On district-served ground, Turnrow reviews the allocation history and confirms assessments are current, because a district lien sits ahead of ours. Bring the district statement with your file and it will not slow anything down.
Related questions
Five minutes, zero documents, and a written term sheet in 24–48 hours answers most questions faster than reading.
Get a term sheet