Ditch Rider – Maintenance
When a patron needs water, you’re the one who makes it happen.
The ditch rider is the District at its most hands-on — the person who actually moves the basin’s water from the canal to a patron’s headgate. You’d patrol one of the District’s eight “rides” (about 7,500 acres), taking water orders, operating gates and checks, and keeping deliveries flowing through the irrigation season — then turn to building and repairing the District’s canals and structures through the off-season. It’s outdoor, physical, essential work: when this job is done well, water arrives where and when a farm needs it, and the basin keeps feeding the country.
What you’d do
The role has two sides — moving water through your ride during the irrigation season, and building and repairing the District’s system year-round.
On the ride
- Patrol your assigned ride — roughly 7,500 acres — knowing every canal, lateral, drain, turnout, check, and spill on it, and the patrons it serves.
- Take water orders from patrons and fellow ditch riders, by phone and in the field, and request the right quantities from the Watermaster and neighboring rides.
- Operate gates, checks, turnouts, and spills to regulate flows, and perform minor maintenance on pumps.
- Clear culvert crossings, pump-inlet grates, checks, and spills — debris removal with a long-handled weed fork.
- Watch for and document leaks, breaks, and damage to District facilities and water-user property.
- Record the water requested and delivered for the monthly water reports, and gather crop and acreage data for the annual crop report.
On maintenance & construction
- Operate and service heavy equipment — backhoes, excavators, loaders, dozers, forklifts, cranes and hoists, graders, mowers, and other District vehicles.
- Excavate and load earth, rock, and materials, and load and unload equipment on trailers.
- Repair District structures; weld, cut, and grind steel; and paint.
- Mix, place, and finish concrete, and build wooden structures — bridges, concrete forms, and more.
- Assist the mechanic with vehicle and equipment repair, using a range of hand and power tools.
- Handle traffic control (flagging), and keep District vehicles and equipment clean and logged.
What the season looks like
Water work follows the water. This role’s schedule shifts with the irrigation season — worth knowing before you apply.
Irrigation season · April–October
Field crews typically work 10 days on, 4 days off, keeping water moving across the basin. Overtime can be required, and ditch riders are asked to save vacation for the off-season.
Off-season · Construction season
The hours settle into Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but the work doesn’t let up. This is construction season — pouring concrete, building forms, and replacing and repairing structures, often in the winter snow and cold.
What you’d bring
- A high school diploma or equivalent, with solid basic math and problem-solving skills.
- A valid Oregon driver’s license — you’ll need to hold and maintain a Class C license. This role also runs heavy equipment, and a CDL may be required; the District provides off-season CDL training and reimburses the cost of obtaining and maintaining a District-required CDL.
- The ability to pass pre-employment and random drug & alcohol testing — the District is a drug-free workplace — and a criminal background check.
- First aid and CPR certification (the District provides the training).
- A willingness to work mandatory overtime and the in-season schedule, with work beyond normal hours on a regular basis.
- The ability to understand and follow District policies and procedures.
- Above all, dependability — and a commitment to the patrons who count on water arriving when and where it’s needed.
Why Klamath Irrigation District
We’ve delivered water to this basin since 1905, and we still move it the way it was first engineered — by gravity, without pumps or power. This is steady, year-round work with people who look out for one another, in service of the farming families who feed the country. It’s public service in the truest sense: a chance to serve your neighbors and be part of something larger than yourself.
What we offer
Pay and benefits for this role are set by the IUOE Local 701 collective bargaining agreement. They include:
- District-funded retirement contribution
- Health, dental, vision & life coverage
- Paid vacation, sick leave & 9 paid holidays
- CDL training & reimbursement
- Annual boot & clothing allowance ($175)
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility
The District pays the single-employee premium for medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and short-term disability coverage, with family coverage available. Ditch riders also receive a District cell phone (or a phone allowance during the irrigation season), and overtime can be taken as pay or comp time.
How to apply
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Get the application
Download and print the District’s application form, or pick one up at our office.
Download application (PDF) -
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Submit it to our office
Drop it off in person or send it to our office staff.
(541) 882-6661 cherrese.wilson@klamathid.org
K.I.D. Office · 6640 KID Lane, Klamath Falls, OR 97603 · Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
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We review & reach out
Applications are kept on file for six months. We’ll be in touch with qualified candidates.
Klamath Irrigation District is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. The District is a drug-free workplace; this is a safety-sensitive role subject to pre-employment and random testing.