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Deschutes County On-farm Irrigation and Energy Efficiency

County: Deschutes

Primary Resource Concern Addressed:

  • Source water depletion - Inefficient irrigation water use
  • Inefficient energy use - Equipment and Facilities
  • Inefficient energy use - Farming/Ranching Practices and Field Operations

Project Description
The objective of this Conservation Implementation Strategy is to increase the efficiency of on-farm irrigation systems, reduce water loss from irrigation water delivery systems, and harness energy from pressurized water made available from irrigation district canal piping projects. Focal project areas have been identified by the local working group process and have a demonstrated need and landowner cooperation.

Conservation Practices Offered

  • Irrigation Pipeline (430)
  • Structure for Water Control (587)
  • Irrigation System, Microirrigation (441)
  • Irrigation System, Sprinkler (442)
  • Pumping Plant (533)
  • Conservation Cover (327)
  • Conservation Crop Rotation (328)
  • Cover Crop (340)
  • Field Border (386)
  • Irrigation Water Management (449)
  • Nutrient Management (590)
  • Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed (329)
  • Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till (345)
  • Pond Sealing or Lining, Flexible Membrane (521A)
  • Agricultural Energy Management Plan - Written (128)
  • Irrigation Water Management Plan - Written (118)
  • Sediment Basin (350)
  • Obstruction Removal (500)
  • Water and Sediment Control Basin (638)
  • Energy Efficient Agricultural Operation (374)

Project Partners

  • Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District
  • Oregon Department of Agriculture
  • Irrigation Districts
  • Deschutes River Conservancy
  • NRCS Oregon
  • Private landowners

 

Application Questions
​​​​​​​NRCS uses prioritization questions to evaluate applications for this initiative. See the list of workload prioritization questions on the Oregon EQIP page. Ranking questions below will also apply.

Ranking Question

Energy efficiency of equipment and facilities:

1. Practices utilize potential pressurized waterpower to reduce energy demand
2. Energy efficiency improved to reduce 1-5 horsepower.
3. Energy efficiency improved to reduce 6-10 horsepower.
4. Energy efficiency improved to reduce 10+ horsepower.
5. Energy efficiency improved by installing a Variable Frequency Drive pump.
 

Insufficient Water: Inefficient use of irrigation water:

6. Irrigation efficiency estimates improved by 40 ac.in/ac or more.
7. Irrigation efficiency estimates improved by 35-39 ac.in/ac.
8. Irrigation efficiency estimates improved by 31-34 ac.in/ac.
9. Irrigation efficiency estimates improved by 28-30 ac.in/ac.
10. Irrigation efficiency estimates improved by 25-27 ac.in/ac.
11. Irrigation efficiency estimates improved by 20-24 ac.in/ac.
12. Irrigation efficiency estimates improved by 1-19 ac.in/ac.
13. Water seepage loss is reduced by transitioning from open ditch to pipeline.
 

Community Based Conservation Support:

14. The irrigation system, ditch, or lateral is shared with multiple users and there is a draft operation plan that demonstrates shared user commitment for improvement and maintenance.


15. The irrigation system, ditch, or lateral is shared with multiple users and there an established document that shows agreed user consensus and commitment for the improvement project.


16. The irrigation system, ditch, or lateral has one user (ie: not shared with multiple users) and there is a draft operation plan that demonstrates user commitment for improvement and maintenance.