Washington State Conservation Commission

The Washington State Conservation Commission has just released its 2008 report on its Irrigation Efficiencies Grants Program.  The IEGP is a partnered effort between the Commission, the Department of Ecology, conservation districts, and private landowners that uses public funds to enhance stream flows in 16 drought critical basins throughout the state.

The Conservation Commission and 47 conservation districts in the State are dedicated to conserving water to help offset low stream flow conditions. One of the most effective tools for accomplishing this is the Irrigation Efficiencies Grants Program (IEGP). Under this program, private landowners partner with local conservation districts on voluntary projects that increase the efficiency of on-farm water application and conveyance delivery systems. The water saved is converted into beneficial instream flows in tributaries where ESA (Endangered Species Act) listed species will benefit.

The Washington State Conservation Commission administers the IEGP through an interagency partnership with the Washington State Department of Ecology. The program began in 2001 as an appropriation that directed Ecology’s Water Resource Program “... to provide grants to conservation districts to assist the agricultural community to implement water conservation measures and irrigation efficiencies ...” within 16 drought critical basins.

Read more in the full report:  2008 Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program annual report 4.67 Mb