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WaterSMART – East Fork Irrigation District

County: Hood River

Resource Concerns: 

  • Source Water Depletion - Inefficient Irrigation Water Use, Surface Water Depletion

Project Description:
The majority of water supplied to EFID is from the East Fork of the Hood River at a diversion point to the south of Mt. Hood, Oregon. There are around 10,000 acres of irrigated lands being serviced by EFID. During summer months, water levels can become low with high amounts of turbidity from glacial influence. This also leads to an increase in temperatures of the remaining water in the river. The demand on the Hood River will be reduced by upgrading on-farm irrigation systems in orchards currently using inefficient irrigation systems such as handlines and impact sprinklers and pastures using handlines with impact sprinklers. This project looks to focus on 2,500 total irrigated acres.  Systems will be upgraded to low-flow and micro sprinkler systems, which will result in a 40% water savings over previous systems and a total of 3,825 acre feet of water saved.  Water conserved will be measured at existing EFID points of diversion, as well as at flow meters that will be installed as part of the project. 

Conservation Practices: 

  • Irrigation Water Management (449)
  • Pumping Plant (533)
  • Irrigation Pipeline (430)
  • Irrigation System, Microirrigation (441)
  • Sprinkler System (442)
  • Structure for Water Control (587)

Project Partners:

  • East Fork Irrigation District
  • Hood River Watershed Group
  • Hood River SWCD
  • Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers
  • NRCS Oregon
  • Private landowners

Ranking Questions:

  1. What is the estimated water savings for the project?
    a. The proposed project shows an efficiency improvement of 30% or greater. 
    b. The proposed project shows an efficiency improvement of 15% or greater. 
    c. The proposed project shows an efficiency improvement of less than 15%.
  2. What level of Irrigation Water Management is the applicant willing to adopt?
  3. With the completion of the offered project in this application, will the entire operation for this applicant be upgraded? 
  4. If you are applying for a variable frequency drive pump, have you already received the pump curve report to match it with the drive for upmost efficiency?
  5. If you are applying for a variable frequency drive, are you working with the Co-op to utilize their funds for upgrading?