PROJECT OF INTEREST
June 2016
Innovations in Agriculture in Oregon: Farmers Irrigation District Improves
Water Quality, Maximizes Water Conservation, and Generates Clean, Renewable
Energy
CHALLENGES
Farmers Irrigation District (FID) is located in Hood River, Oregon, in the scenic and
culturally rich Columbia River Gorge. Founded in 1874, FID provides water to over
5,800 acres of land, both residential and agricultural. The Hood River Valley is a
national producer of pears, apples, and wine grapes, generating an average of
$260 million annual in agriculturally driven revenues. These prime farm and
orchard lands are irrigated via FID's Lowline Canal constructed over a century ago
of open earth ditches and wooden stave pipes.
Climate and weather patterns in the Hood River valley can be extreme with severe
wind, snow, seasonal flooding and periods of prolonged drought. Major flood
events in the 1990's resulted in structural damage and canal failures, causing an
average of 45,750 cubic feet of sediment to pour into the Hood River Basin,
impairing water quality and harming sensitive cold-water aquatic life such as trout
and salmon. In 2015 Oregon experienced several years of drought and the rivers in
the Hood River Basin reached record low flows. These impacts represented
multiple years of significantly reduced water deliveries to farmers, diminished crop
quality and yields, and regional economic hardship.
These drivers motivated FID to pursue innovative solutions to create sustainable
infrastructure capable of supporting a thriving agricultural economy,
while also increasing water conservation, improving water quality and habitat for
endangered fish for years to come.
SOLUTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES
FID used just over $36.2 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loans
for a multiple-year endeavor to convert the open canal system to a piped,
pressurized irrigation system suited to maximize water conservation and restore
reliable water delivery to crops. The CWSRF program is administered through the
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), and through the
combination of federal capitalization grants and CWSRF loan repayment dollars,
FID has been successful in restoring in-stream flow by converting 96% of the
existing open irrigation canals, thus allowing farmers to convert to highly efficient
water delivery systems and dramatically reduce the water and energy use per
acre.
A canal prior to piping
New pressurized irrigation pipe
PROJECT OF INTEREST • EPA-832-F-16-009
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This project presented another opportunity that FID was quick to seize. By also using the CWSRF loans to purchase equipment
to generate clean, renewable energy using micro-hydroelectric technology, FID saw the potential to generate additional year-
round revenues enabling them to attain the financial capacity to borrow the funds necessary to implement these innovative
capital improvements. FID rehabilitated two existing hydroelectric repowering stations. These generating stations were
optimized to work in tandem with the new micro-hydroelectric turbines in the new pressurized irrigation pipes, which now
generate approximately 26 million kWh of electricity annually, representing about $200,000 in additional revenues due to
improved efficiencies.
BENEFITING THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE
FID's visionary leadership in investing in capital improvements supports the triple bottom line economic, environmental and
social results.. The new pressurized pipe system has effectively conserved 6 billion gallons of water annually (when compared
to the 1995 baseline), a result so impressive and representing such a surplus that some 2,000 excess water right acres have
been sold for instream habitat to protect endangered fish. At the same time, farmers are realizing a greater economic
sustainability with improved crop quality and yields which means greater economic prosperity. FID sells the 26 million kWh of
power generated from the small-hydro installations to a regional investor owned utility. All of the proceeds from the sales are
used to repay the CWSRF loans, as well as capital for future infrastructure investments within the local community.
Stakeholder partnerships and a collaborative working relationship with local, state, and federal resource agencies and tribes
continues to be a key element in FID's ability to effectively manage waters for the mutual benefit of growers and the
watershed alike. Such innovations in agriculture serve as inspiring models of efficiency and resiliency in times of water
scarcity for other communities and regions around the country experiencing similar struggles. This is particularly relevant in
areas impacted by drought, water losses due to evaporation, where many permanent crops such as orchards, vineyards, and
nuts are produced.
IMPRESSIVE RESULTS
6 billion gallons of water conserved annually
Ability to power 2,000 homes by micro-hydroelectric
energy
7,800 trees planted in riparian corridor
2 minimum flow agreements adopted
2,000 supplemental water right acres
abandoned, left instream for endangered fish.
New state of the art fish screens
1,451 individual irrigation pumps eliminated
2.3 million kWh production increase
1.45 million kWh conserved annually due to
eliminated irrigation pumps
Excess energy produced fed into local grid, sale of
energy used to pay off CWSRF loans
Clean Water
State Revolving Fund
State of Oregon
Department of
Environmental
Quality
FOR MORE
INFORMATION,
PLEASE VISIT:
http://www.fidhr.org/
http://www.deq.state.or.us/
wq/loans/loans.htm
https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf
https://www.voutube.com/w
atch?v=kcvR9bx2D6E
PROJECT OF INTEREST • EPA-832-F-16-009
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