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Deschutes County On-farm Irrigation and Energy Efficiency

County: Deschutes

Primary Resource Concern Addressed:

  • Source water depletion - Surface water depletion, Groundwater depletion
  • Inefficient energy use - Equipment and Facilities, 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

  • Soil Health Testing (216)
  • 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)
  • Irrigation Water Management (449)
  • Pond Sealing or Lining, Flexible Membrane (521A)
  • 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

  1. Are there any PLUs within the CIS boundary?
  2. Do the practices utilize potential pressurized waterpower to reduce energy demand?
  3. Energy efficiency of equipment and facilities:
    1. Energy efficiency improved by installing a Variable Frequency Drive pump.
    2. Energy efficiency improved to reduce 10+ horsepower.
    3. Energy efficiency improved to reduce 5-10 horsepower.
    4. Energy efficiency improved to reduce 1-5 horsepower.
  4. Water seepage loss is reduced by transitioning from open ditch to
    pipeline?
  5. Community Based Conservation Support for the project:
    1. The system has one user and there is a draft operation and maintenance plan.
    2. The system has multiple users and there is an established operation and maintenance plan.
    3. The system has multiple users and there is a draft operation and maintenance plan.
    4. The system has multiple users and there is no operation and maintenance plan.
  6. Insufficient Water: Inefficient use of irrigation water:
    1. Irrigation efficiency estimates improved by 30+ ac.in/ or more.
    2. Irrigation efficiency estimates improved by 21-30 ac.in ac.
    3. Irrigation efficiency estimates improved by 11-20 ac.in/ac.
    4. Irrigation efficiency estimates improved by 1-10 ac.in/ac.