USDA Investing $420 Million in Infrastructure Projects

The USDA announced it will invest $420 million in 132 infrastructure projects in 31 states. The funds will get used for projects like rehabilitating dams, flood prevention, and watershed restoration projects. The investments are funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and build on an earlier $166 billion investment earlier this year.

Projects earmarked for funding in the Northwest include:

• East Columbia Basin Irrigation District in Adams County WA

• East Fork Irrigation District Irrigation Modernization Project in Hood River, OR
  Modernizing the East Fork Irrigation District (EFID) infrastructure will conserve water, reduce energy use, improve reliability, increase public safety, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat in the Hood River watershed. Funds will go towards design of high-priority laterals and the Dukes Valley Canal.
   
• Tumalo Irrigation District Modernization Project in Deschtues County, OR
  The Tumalo Irrigation District Modernization Project will modernize up to 1.9 miles of Tumalo Irrigation District’s canals and 66.9 miles of laterals to improve water conservation, water delivery reliability, and public safety. The project will occur in phases over 11 years. By converting open irrigation ditches into a closed piped system, the project will reduce water loss from canals by up to 48 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 4.9 billion gallons per season. Water saved from the project will be permanently protected in the Deschutes River and Tumalo Creek, benefitting fish and wildlife habitat. The project also will deliver water to irrigators in a safer, more efficient manner and reduce energy consumption from pumping. Funds will be used for design phase of converting Project Group 4 from a canal to pipe.
   
• Owyhee Irrigation District Modernization Project in Malheur County, OR
  In recent years, the Owyhee Irrigation District has faced droughts that limit water supply to irrigators. The design and age of the District's conveyance system no longer meets its obligations. To address these concerns, funds will be used to implement ag-water management and conservation practices and rehabilitate the conveyance system to improve water delivery reliability and water conservation along the District infrastructure. Modernizing the conveyance infrastructure will enable opportunities to benefit the local agricultural community by improving drought resilience and reducing inefficiencies associated with the current system.

“The infrastructure law is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild our infrastructure, create good-paying jobs, and build new economic opportunity,” says Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Our watershed programs help communities rebuild after natural disasters and prepare for future events.”

He also says that includes typically underserved communities.

Click Here for an interactive map of projects receiving funding nationwide.

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