News Release
3 new projects selected in Oregon under the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Release No. 2016.12.009
Contact:
Loren Unruh, Leader for Programs
503-414-3235, Loren.Unruh@or.usda.gov
Tracy Robillard, Public Affairs Officer
503-414-3220, tracy.robillard@or.usda.gov
PORTLAND, Ore. – (Dec. 22, 2016) — Today officials with the Oregon USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced three new projects selected for funding through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) with total proposed investments topping $5 million for conservation partnerships in Oregon. Partners have proposed to contribute up to an additional $10 million.
“We’re excited to work with our partners to expand our mission of conservation through strategic investment,” said NRCS State Conservationist Ron Alvarado. “These partnerships will lead to cleaner, more abundant water, improved soil health, enhanced wildlife habitat and endangered species recovery, and stronger rural economies.”
Nationally, USDA announced that 88 high-impact projects across the country will receive $225 million in federal funding. In addition, partners have proposed to contribute up to an additional $500 million to improve the nation's water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability.
Oregon’s three projects selected for funding are:
- Three Sisters Irrigation District Innovation
NRCS Investment: $990,604
Lead Partner:Three Sisters Irrigation District
The Three Sisters Irrigation District in Oregon with government, private industry and nonprofit partners will implement multiple innovative projects to mitigate drought, improve water quality/quantity and improve fish habitat.The project includes the completion of piping Three Sisters Irrigation District Watson McKenzie Main Canal with two HDPE side-by-side buried, resulting in the conservation of 800 acre feet of annual canal seepage loss. The on-farm component of this project will encompass 61 projects, over 1500 acres, in the Upper District. The program will allow farmers in the Upper District to pipe private laterals, thereby providing access to pressurized water from the District’s pipeline. Pressurized water will eliminate electrical pumps that use over 2.5 million kWh of electricity annually. A feasibility study will be conducted to determine the potential for 60 on farm hydro net metering projects. This project will allow TSID to mitigate drought by piping the District.
- Conservation of Soil Health in Wallowa County, Oregon
NRCS Investment: $3,194,400
Lead Partner: The Nature Conservancy
Through the conservation project, the Nature Conservancy and partners will maintain and improve soil heath in targeted areas of Wallowa County, Ore., through innovative on-farm practices and permanent easements. The project capitalizes on the strengths of three well-respected organizations who have a history of working with local producers, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and each other. The project will target the use of NRCS financial assistance to address multiple resource concerns, including soil health, habitat, water quantity/quality and climate change resilience.
- Blue Mountains Vegetative Health Initiative
NRCS Investment: $1,195,890
Lead Partner:Grant Soil and Water Conservation District
The Blue Mountains Vegetative Health Initiative will improve forest conditions, increase streamflows and improve instream listed fish habitat on private lands near the Malheur National Forest in Oregon.The project will be modeled after the Blue Mountains Forest Partners, a key partner in this effort, after their treatment of Malheur National Forest timber areas for fire resiliency. The project partners expect to complete two thousand acres of pre-commercial thinning in conifer stands and one thousand acres of juniper removal over a five year period. The partners will prioritize treatment area using a GIS-based selection process similar to the one successfully developed by the U.S. Forest Service. Finally participating landowners and partners will develop prescribed grazing to ensure long-term management of the treatments.
Since 2009, USDA has invested more than $29 billion to help producers make conservation improvements, working with as many as 500,000 farmers, ranchers and landowners to protect over 400 million acres nationwide, boosting soil and air quality, cleaning and conserving water and enhancing wildlife habitat. For more information about these and other conservation opportunities in Oregon, visit the NRCS Oregon website at www.or.nrcs.usda.gov
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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. By working collectively with partners and stakeholders, NRCS helps maintain healthy and productive working landscapes, benefitting both environmental and agricultural needs.
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Local contact information is located in the telephone book under the federal government listing or can be found online at: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov.
