(October 2, 2024)- 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 can be found below under Final Documents.
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.
Background
On June 1, 2021, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced a public scoping meeting and public scoping period to consider improvements to aging irrigation infrastructure in Farmers Irrigation District, located in Hood River County, Oregon. A virtual public scoping meeting was held
on June 16, 2021. Public scoping comments were accepted from June 1, 2021 through July 15, 2021. Scoping period documents can be viewed in the Archive section below.
On October 25, 2023, NRCS released a Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment (Draft Plan-EA) for the proposed project. NRCS, the District, and Farmers Conservation Alliance hosted an in-person public meeting on November 8, 2023 at the Hood River Fire Department and a virtual public meeting on November 15, 2023 to discuss the Draft Plan-EA and answer questions about the project. The virtual meeting was held via Zoom and you can find a recording of the meeting here. The Draft Plan-EA can be viewed in the Draft Documents section below. A printed copy of the Draft Plan-EA was also available at the Farmers Conservation Alliance Office.
Public comments on the Draft Plan-EA were accepted from October 25, 2023, through November 29, 2023 via email, online form, phone, and mail. No comments were received.
For further information please contact:
Farmers Conservation Alliance
541-716-6085
Farmers Conservation Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which, as a federal contractor, is assisting NRCS and the sponsors in the Watershed Plan - Environmental Assessment process.
Further information on the public involvement process can be found at the Council of Environmental Quality's Citizens Guide to NEPA.
Click on a file to download.
Click on a file to download.
Click on a file to download.
Visit FCA for more information about irrigation modernization.