By Lisa Rose

April 27, 2007 | NEWTON -- Above-average water levels in the Newton Reservoir make for a promising year for farmers.

Last year about 43 percent of the water was left in the reservoir after the irrigation season was over. Farmers will be able to start irrigating after the ditches are burned.

"Everybody should have pert near all the water they need," said Joe Larsen, president of Newton Water Users Association.

Larsen said that the reservoir is full to its 5,600 acre-feet capacity. Currently, 10 second-feet is running into it and should remain until the first of summer.

Mayor Clair Christiansen said that although Newton will be in good shape for secondary water, but only "time will tell" if spring levels for culinary water will be sufficient. Newton's culinary water comes from four main groups of springs, which are recharged in a two-year cycle.

The mayor said he is a little nervous about culinary water levels and skeptic if storage will remain in the reservoir again like last fall. Newton Water Users will delay the use of the reservoir as long as possible depending on the amount of spring rain. Probably in May the water will be available to community members. As of now, no secondary water shares are available for purchase.

"Quite a load could be taken off [the reservoir]," Christiansen said. "The farm season looks good, but whether or not it leaves as much for next year will be the question."

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