Final plans approved for Klamath Irrigation District Infrastructure Modernization Project

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon has released a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Klamath Irrigation District (KID) Infrastructure Modernization Project.

NRCS Oregon has determined that the project will not cause significant local, regional, or national impacts to the environment. With a completed environmental assessment in place, the project is now eligible for federal funding and may move forward into final design and construction.

KID proposes to modernize District irrigation infrastructure to improve the efficiency of its system. The project would include piping and/or lining canals and laterals and upgrading select pump stations. These measures would improve the use and control over water throughout the District and be more resilient to drought. Improvements under consideration may be funded through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (PL 83-566) and would address water conveyance and operation inefficiencies in District-operated infrastructure while supporting existing agricultural land use.

The project is a joint effort among NRCS Oregon and Klamath Irrigation District as the project sponsor and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as a cooperating agency, in coordination with other agencies, stakeholders, and the public.

The Final EA and other supporting documents for the project are available at:

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/oregon/klamath-irrigation-district

The project may be partially funded through the Watershed and Flood Prevention Program, administered by NRCS and authorized by Public Law 83-566. Through this program, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to local organizations (project sponsors) for planning and carrying out projects that help solve natural resource and related economic problems in a specific watershed. These issues can include watershed protection, flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, and wetlands creation.

For more information about this and other irrigation modernization efforts, visit watershedplans.org or the NRCS Oregon public notice webpage.