IID dive team remains suspended after fatal accident

The Imperial Irrigation District Board voted 3-2 in favor of keeping their dive recovery team suspended.

Board President Erik Ortega said, ” It has not been disbanded. It has not been re-restructured. That’s currently what the status quo is. It remains in the suspended status. ”

The dive team is an all-volunteer group made up of IID employees. It was suspended last year after one of its members died during a recovery operation. On the average, they were called on about 36 times annually.

“An example of that is if a vehicle falls into the canal, the dive team then assists in recovering that vehicle from the canal.”

IID is discussing how best to use their dive team in the future in case they bring it back.

” What we’ve be doing is looking a supporting the sheriff’s department so that IID can concentrate on its core mission, which is delivering water and power. And the sheriff’s department can do its mission which is public safety, ” Ortega said.

They’re also considering subcontracting other agencies for recovery work.

“There were other discussions there in regards to reaching out to the county and the Sheriff’s department in regards to their dive team so that they may provide those services to IID if that is what the board desires and approves at a future meeting,” Ortega said.

The tragic accident in which a diver perished will never be forgotten. It’s still under investigation.

“That’s certainly something that’s caused IID to look at what’s best for the people and what’s best for IID’s employees,” Ortega said.