This project was a result of the marriage of three funding sources: YTAHP, Irrigation Efficiencies and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). In 2002, the KCCD and NRCS began working with this landowner to develop a plan to address water conservation, water quality, and fish screening issues on their 346 acres. The proposed project consisted of using two Ellensburg Water Co. laterals and one diversion from Caribou Creek to irrigate the land that produces timothy hay, sweet corn and wheat in rotation. This land had been rill irrigated with gated pipe and concrete lined ditches with siphon tubes. The rill irrigation was replaced with three lateral move sprinkler systems for the biggest share of land and hand lines in the odd shaped areas. The irrigation improvements have increased irrigation water use efficiencies allowing for 1.042 cubic feet per second to be leased to the State Water Trust for instream flows.
The landowners worked during the spring of 2003 to install the greater than a half million dollar project on their family farm. YTAHP funds provided approximately 8% of the cost of the project, while the largest share (80%) was provided by the Irrigation Efficiencies program. EQIP, a USDA cost share program, and the landowner covered the remainder of the costs.
Left: Pipe supplied with YTAHP funds.
Right: Installing the buried pipe for efficient delivery of water from the Ellensburg Water Company Canal.
Left: Water control structure and eletrical panel for service to linear sprinkler irrigation system.
Right: The landowner working on one of the three newly installed sprinkler systems.