The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon has released a Final Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Farmers Irrigation District Infrastructure Modernization Project. 

NRCS Oregon has determined that the project will not cause significant local, regional, or national impacts to the environment. With a completed environmental assessment in place, the project is now eligible for federal funding and may move forward into final design and construction. 

The project will pipe 3 miles of open canals (Farmers Canal and Rainy Ditch); install six Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems; deepen the existing attenuation bay by 0.2 acre-feet; and expand Forebay 3 by approximately 2 acre-feet. The project will improve water delivery reliability and drought resilience for FID irrigators, improve water conservation, improve streamflow in the Hood River, reduce the sediment content in irrigation water, and reduce FID’s operation and maintenance costs. 

The project is a joint effort among NRCS Oregon and Farmers Irrigation District, in coordination with other agencies, stakeholders, and the public. 

The Final EA and other supporting documents for the project are available at: watershedplans.org/farmers-id. 

The project may be partially funded through the Watershed and Flood Prevention Program, administered by NRCS and authorized by Public Law 83-566. Through this program, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to local organizations (project sponsors) for planning and carrying out projects that help solve natural resource and related economic problems in a specific watershed. These issues can include watershed protection, flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, and wetlands creation. 

For more information about this and other irrigation modernization efforts, visit watershedplans.org or the NRCS Oregon public notice webpage. 

Contact: 
Lauren Bennett, NRCS Oregon
Public Affairs Officer
503-414-3220
Lauren.Bennett2@usda.gov