Three Central Washington Irrigation Districts Receive Federal Funding

On Thursday, the Bureau of Reclamation announced that three irrigation districts across central Washington were selected to receive federal water efficiency grants.  The grants are part of the Department of Interior’s WaterSMART program.  The goal to the program is to encourage efficient water use and conservation practices.

Local district that will receive funding include:

Columbia Irrigation District: Reclamation awarded $73,538 for the Lateral 2 Mile 2.1 Liner Project. They will use this funding to upgrade the canal lining to reduce seepage and prevent potential canal failures.

Greater Wenatchee Irrigation District: Reclamation awarded $75,000 for the Electromagnetic Meter Installation. They will use this funding to replace 35 analog propeller meters with electromagnetic meters and an automated meter system to improve water management and mitigate water shortages due to drought.

Quincy-Columbia Irrigation District: Reclamation awarded $23,130 for the Automation of the W27 Lateral Turnout on the West Canal. They will replace an existing turnout gate with an automated meter to more accurately measure flow rates and enable automatic adjustments, conserving water and ensuring more reliable water deliveries to farms.

“Water is our most precious resource, and in Central Washington, we do everything we can to conserve our limited supply,” Representative Dan Newhouse said. “These grants will allow our irrigation districts to improve management and continue to efficiently deliver water to our rural communities and producers.”

Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects are part of the WaterSMART program. Through WaterSMART, Reclamation works cooperatively with states, tribes, and local entities as they plan and implement actions to increase water supply reliability through investments and modernize existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. Click Here to Learn more about the WaterSMART program.

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