Irrigation Program
The Columbia Conservation District in partnership with the Washington State Conservation Commission offers cost share opportunities to landowners to install more efficient irrigation systems.



How the program works
- In order to be eligible, participants must have valid water rights in one of 16 identified fish-critical basins
- Program pays up to 85% of total costs for landowners to implement perscried best management practices that increase the effeciency to crop water delivery to irrigated agriculture (up to $400,000 per contract)
- On-farm projects receive irrigation water management planning
- Source metering and fish screening prescrived as appropriate
- Pro-rated portion of saved water is transferred too the states Trust Water Rights program for in-stream flows (proportion based on cost share amount)
How the program began
The program began in 2001 from private land owners and environmentalists who wanted to cooperatively restore in-stream flows for endangered salmonid populations within the states 16 critical basins.
Additional Program information:
WADE 2020 Farm & Fields Irrigation Efficiency Programs with Jon Culp