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      • Arnold ID
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      • Ochoco ID
      • Swalley ID
      • Tumalo ID
      • Westland ID & Umatilla Co
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North Unit Irrigation District

Draft Watershed Plan - Environmental Assessment Under Development

 The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), with assistance from Farmers Conservation Alliance (FCA), has compiled and reviewed the comments that were submitted during the scoping period for the Lone Pine Irrigation District Irrigation Modernization Project. The comments will inform the development of a Draft Watershed Plan – Environmental Assessment (Draft Plan-EA).  


The Draft Plan-EA will identify alternatives to meet the project’s purpose and need, identify the resources potentially affected by the project, and evaluate the effects of the project on those resources. Once the Draft Plan-EA has been completed it will be released for public review. At that time, a second public meeting and comment period will be advertised and held to solicit questions and comments on the Draft Plan-EA. 


Anyone who provided their email during the scoping period or signs up below will receive a notification when the Draft Plan-EA is available for review. 


Read more about the proposed project under Project Documents. 


Background

October 2, 2019 - The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced a public scoping meeting and public scoping period to consider improvements to aging irrigation infrastructure in North Unit Irrigation District, located in Jefferson County south of Madras, Oregon. 


By converting open-ditch irrigation canals into underground, closed-pipe systems, the proposed North Unit Irrigation District Modernization Project can reduce conveyance and operational losses over the entire irrigation season and improve the District’s ability to efficiently provide water to its patrons.


A public scoping meeting was held:

October 21, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Jefferson County Library Rodriguez Annex Building

134 SE E Street

Madras, Oregon


Participants had an opportunity to learn more about the proposed irrigation improvements at the meeting and submit their comments, ideas and concerns. Several project documents are located below. 


Improvements under consideration may be partially funded through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (PL 83-566) and will address water conservation, enhancement of wildlife and aquatic species habitat, and public safety risks while supporting existing agricultural land use.


The project is sponsored by the Deschutes Basin Board of Control and the North Unit Irrigation District, with funding and technical support from the Energy Trust of Oregon, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Farmers Conservation Alliance. NRCS is the lead federal agency for the proposed project. Farmers Conservation Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which, as a federal contractor, is assisting NRCS and the sponsors in the Watershed Plan - Environmental Assessment process. 


Public scoping comments were accepted from October 2, 2019 through November 21, 2019 related to the proposed project. Scoping comments can be submitted via the following ways:

1) Email: northunit.id.comments@gmail.com


2) Online at this form


3) Mail to:
ATTN: North Unit Watershed Plan
Farmers Conservation Alliance
102 State St
Hood River, OR 97031


The comments will be used to inform the development of a Draft Watershed Plan – Environmental Assessment (Draft Plan-EA). The Draft Plan-EA will identify alternatives to meet the project’s purpose and need, identify the resources potentially affected by the project, and evaluate the effects of the project on those resources. Once the Draft Plan-EA has been completed it will be released for public review. At that time, a second public meeting and comment period will be advertised and held to solicit questions and comments on the Draft Plan-EA. 


Anyone who provides their email during the scoping period or signs up below will receive notifications related to the project including when the Draft Plan-EA is available for review. 


For more information about North Unit Irrigation District, please visit their website. 


For further information please contact: 

Farmers Conservation Alliance

541-716-6085

Farmers Conservation Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which, as a federal contractor, is assisting NRCS and the sponsors in the Watershed Plan - Environmental Assessment process. 


Please note: Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. 

Further information on the public involvement process can be found at the Council of Environmental Quality's Citizens Guide to NEPA.

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Project Documents

Click on a file to download.

North Unit Scoping Meeting Presentation 2019.10.21 (pdf)Download
North Unit Scoping Factsheet and Map 2019.10.21 (pdf)Download
North Unit Preliminary Report 2019.09.27 (pdf)Download
North Unit System Improvement Plan 2017 (pdf)Download

Visit FCA for more information about irrigation modernization.