Federal prosecutors aren't the only ones questioning the operation of the Truckee Carson Irrigation District these days.

SOME T-C-I-D EMPLOYEES SAY CURRENT POLICIES HAVE NOT ONLY LED TO THE LOSS OF SOME JOBS, BUT IS PUTTING THE AREA'S FARMERS AND OTHERS AT FURTHER RISK.

TCID said last month it was laying off more than half its work force.
Chuck Richards and Don Watson are two of that number. Chuck is a ditch rider and has been with TCID for 13 years. Don is a 7 year veteran currently working as a carpenter. In 10 days both will be without a job.

Come April Richards will also be without a home. When he took the job the home came with it. In fact, he was required to live here. It's the only home his family has known.

"My boy has lived in this hou7se since he was 3 years old. I've got 4 dogs and 2 carts. So, it's a pretty big move. Pretty rough."

Both men have been active in the union, Richafds is the local's president and they believe it's no accident they are among those who were laid off.

"I feel it's the people they don't really like," says Watson. "You know, the ones that speak their minds, thatspeak their feelings and ones that question their jobs."

In fact, it's believed the layoffs include many of the employees who testified before the federal grand jury that returned the indictments against the 4 district officials.

What might have been said behind those closed doors is unknown, but these two say management decisions, changes in how the district operates has resulted in less experienced hands watching it's miles of canals and ditches. That's reduced accountability and increased risk of incidents like last year's breach of the Truckee Canal at Fernley and the failure of another major structure in the Fallon area that put crops here at risk.
"Rrunning water takes years to learn how to do it right," says Richards and water is like fire. It can get out of control and we all know it can cause damage. Management has to come up with a better plan to run the water or everybody will keep getting put in danger. That's what I see."

And the layoffs, he says, will only make things worse. Fewer people with less experience operating and keeping an eye on a complex irrigation system.

Announcing the layoffs TCID officials cited rising costs and lower revenues. The district's main revenue source are the fees charged farmers is unchanged, stable.

District officials say the increased costs include those related to the Fernley flood, but admit they also include expected legal fees related to the indictments.

We contacted TCID officials regarding our stories today. They declined comment.