U.S. Awards $7.66 Million to Modernize Oregon Agricultural Irrigation System

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 28, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the funding results for the Fiscal Year 2026 Regional Conservation Partnership Program projects. The Owyhee–Middle Snake River Irrigation Efficiency Improvement Project in Oregon received $7.6662 million in funding support. Led by the Owyhee Irrigation District, the project plans to modernize approximately 4.4 miles (7.1 kilometers) of irrigation laterals and complete approximately 32 on-farm high-efficiency irrigation facility upgrades, with an expected annual irrigation water savings of approximately 734,000 cubic meters.

The project is located in the Middle Snake River Basin in Oregon and plans to convert some existing irrigation laterals into piped water conveyance systems while carrying out supporting upgrades to on-farm irrigation facilities. The two components of the modernization respectively cover the irrigation district's water conveyance network and the on-farm water use segment, and will be coordinated and implemented by the Owyhee Irrigation District.

According to the project objectives announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, upon completion the project is expected to save approximately 595 acre-feet of water annually and reduce phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment from agricultural drainage entering surface water bodies. Through canal piping and high-efficiency on-farm irrigation facility upgrades, the project will reduce water conveyance losses and agricultural runoff pollution.

This funding is included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service's Fiscal Year 2026 Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The project adopts the RCPP Classic implementation mechanism, under which the Natural Resources Conservation Service enters into conservation contracts with eligible agricultural producers, landowners, and others, in coordination with local project partners to carry out irrigation facility modernization. The $7.6662 million represents the federal funding amount for the selected project, which is at the funding selection stage.