As reported by Capital Press, Oregon water regulators awarded nearly $6.7 million to seven irrigation projects, splitting awards between the ongoing Water Supply Development program and a one‑time irrigation modernization fund (2023). The upgrades focus on center pivots, pressurized pipelines and monitoring to cut losses and operating costs, with most conserved water committed to in‑stream flows.
- Wheeler County — Gabe Williams: $960,000 of $1.5M to upgrade/consolidate pumps, pivots and equipment; ~⅔ of conserved water dedicated in‑stream to the John Day River, ~⅓ used to expand irrigated acreage.
- Josephine County — Trout Unlimited: ≈$565,000 of $1.1M for a center pivot boosting application efficiency up to 35%; 100% of savings transferred in‑stream for fish habitat (top public‑benefit score).
- Jackson County — Trout Unlimited: ≈$460,000 of $800,000 to replace flood irrigation with a center pivot; all conserved water and associated water rights transferred in‑stream.
- Wallowa County — Angela Hagenah: $400,000 of $850,000 for a solar‑powered center pivot and pipeline to reduce flood‑irrigation losses; expected to cut energy and labor and protect native vegetation.
- Union County — Powder Valley Water Control District: ≈$2.5M of $10.4M to pipe >3 miles of open ditches into a pressurized pipeline serving >2,000 acres (six irrigators); 75% of conserved water dedicated in‑stream.
- Klamath Drainage District: nearly $1.5M to extend a canal, improve pumping/operations and add real‑time monitoring; request scaled down from > $4M due to limited modernization funds.
- Crook & Jefferson counties — Lone Pine Irrigation District: $336,000 of $3.3M to pipe >2 miles of canals; conserved water transferred in season to North Unit ID, with equivalent stored reservoir releases later to bolster Upper Deschutes winter flows.
