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By working collectively with partners and stakeholders, NRCS helps maintain healthy and productive working landscapes, benefitting both environmental and agricultural needs. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides financial and technical assistance to voluntary farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to implement conservation practices on private lands.
Through this program, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to states, local governments and Tribes (project sponsors) to plan and implement authorized watershed project plans for the purpose of watershed protection, flood mitigation, water quality improvements, soil erosion reduction, rural, municipal and industrial water supply, irrigation, water management, sediment control, fish and wildlife enhancement, and hydropower.įor more information about this and other irrigation modernization projects in Oregon, visit or visit the NRCS Oregon public notice webpage here. Once complete, the watershed plan will enable NRCS to apply for funding to construct irrigation improvements through its Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention program, also referred to as PL-566. The public will have an opportunity to review the draft plan and provide additional input. Comments may be emailed to or submitted online at or mailed to: Farmers Conservation Alliance, 11 3rd Street, Suite 101, Hood River, OR 97031.įollowing the public comment period, project partners will develop a Draft Watershed Plan - Environmental Assessment. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to David McKay (541) 716-6085 or comments may be submitted through Nov.
The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Participants will have an opportunity to learn more about the proposed irrigation improvements at the meeting and submit their comments, ideas and concerns. at the Pine Grove Grange, 2835 Van Horn Drive, Hood River, Oregon. Members of the public are invited to provide input to help guide planning efforts during a scoping meeting, Oct. The project is sponsored by the East Fork Irrigation District, with funding and technical support from Energy Trust, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Farmers Conservation Alliance.
11, 2018) – The East Fork Irrigation District and project partners propose to modernize aging infrastructure to conserve water, reduce energy use, improve operational efficiencies, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat in the Hood River Watershed.īy converting open-ditch irrigation canals into underground, closed-pipe systems, the proposed East Fork Irrigation District Modernization Project could reduce seepage and spill water losses by up to 5,287 acre-feet, a rate of up to 16.6 cubic feet per second, over the entire irrigation season. 18 in Hood RiverĬontact: Tom Makowski, Assistant State Conservationist for Watershed Resources and PlanningĮmail: Robillard, Public Affairs Officer Public comments sought for improvements to East Fork Irrigation District infrastructure