In 2024, Columbia Basin Conservation District welcomed Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, to Eastern Washington. He toured the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP) with Washington State Conservationist Roylene Comes At Night and SCC's Executive Director, James Thompson.
OGWRP helps farmers switch from Odessa groundwater to Columbia Basin Project water, tackling critical water supply issues. With more than $200 million in support from various partners over the last two years, the project is making great progress.
This effort shows the impact teamwork among local, state, and federal partners can have on protecting our region's water resources!.
Learn more here.
In an arid landscape dominated by dryland grain production and rangeland, this pilot focuses on reducing soil loss, improving water availability, and supporting habitat health. By tracking conservation practices and applying watershed tools, the work helps partners better understand how voluntary conservation supports resilient working lands under changing conditions.
In a working lands landscape shaped by dryland farming, grazing, and irrigated agriculture, this pilot focuses on reducing erosion, keeping soil on the land, and improving stream and habitat conditions. By tracking conservation practices and applying watershed tools, the work helps partners better understand how voluntary conservation supports resilient farms and healthy watersheds.
Within a productive agricultural landscape shaped by dairy and crop production, this pilot focuses on improving water quality, managing nutrients, and reducing flood risks. Monitoring and conservation tracking help partners understand how voluntary conservation supports both farm viability and long-term watershed health.
