From the Archives - April 23, 2026

Drainage districts were established in the 1920s by the residing landowners to provide flood control. The landowners received authority to tax themselves to raise money for construction and maintenance of dikes, ditches, and pumps. Each district had at least three commissioners chosen by the residing landowners to oversee operations. The dikes they built kept high water from flooding the districts….sometimes. Ditches channel water to a pump house located at the lowest point in the district. Pumped through large pipes, water is shot into the river.

Drainage district #7 was created in 1925. At that time it consisted of 2050 acres.

This Bob Meeker photo was taken on April 24, 1934. Its caption reads; "Repairing the break in Drainage District #7." This drainage district is now the Kootenai Wildlife Refuge.

The Boundary County Historical Society and Museum, 7229 Main, Bonners Ferry, Idaho sponsors this column. 

Visit the museum, Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., or visit the website at boundarycountymuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page for historical photos and stories, and to see upcoming events. The museum can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 208-267-7720.