Skip to main content

Rainwater Harvesting Initiative

County: Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington 

Resource Concern: 

  • Wind water erosion - Sheet and rill erosion, Ponding and flooding
  • Source Water Depletion - Inefficient irrigation water use

Project Description
The Rainwater Harvesting Initiative seeks to address challenges related to ponding, flooding, sheet and rill erosion, and inefficient irrigation water usage on urban lands. By implementing innovative solutions such as rainwater harvest catchment systems, this initiative aims to support efficient water management practices on urban growing spaces, specifically in the capture and storage of rainwater for irrigation use on crops. This initiative aligns with NRCS' broader mission to support and promote sustainable farming practices, to conserve our natural resources, and to foster the resiliency of urban food systems across the nation.

Conservation Practices

  • Soil and Source Testing for Nutrient Management (217)    
  • Pumping Plant (533)
  • Roof Runoff Structure (558)
  • Structure for Water Control (587)
  • Underground Outlet (620)
  • Water Harvesting Catchment (636)    
  • Heavy Use Area Protection (561)
  • Irrigation System, Microirrigation (441)
  • Irrigation Water Management (449)
  • Critical Area Planting (342)    
  • Irrigation Pipeline (430)

Project Partners

  • East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District
  • Private Landowners
  • NRCS Oregon

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 Questions

  1. Is the applicant located within the Portland Metro Urban Growth Boundary (UGB)?
  2. Is the applicant located within 10 miles of the Portland Metro UGB?
  3. Is the applicant selling or donating food grown on the operation to markets located within the Portland Metro UGB? 
  4. Will planned activities redirect and control runoff from farm structures?
  5. Will roof runoff be captured and re-used for irrigation on cropland?
  6. Will planned practices reduce the use of municipal water for irrigation on cropland annually by:
    a. <25%
    b. 25-50%
    c. 50-75%
    d. >75%
Rainwater Harvesting Initiative (2.13 MB)
Iniciativa de recolección de agua de lluvia (370.32 KB)
Mpango wa Uvunaji wa Maji ya Mvua (326.11 KB)