News Release Archive

Reclamation Issues Draft EA for Greenberry Irrigation District

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Tanya Sommer, tsommer@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: February 16, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation issued a Draft Environmental Assessment for a proposed water-service contract for 7,500 acre-feet of water annually to be used for irrigation by the Greenberry Irrigation District in Benton County, Oregon.

The irrigation district has applied to draw water from the Willamette River to supply about 3,800 acres of existing agricultural land and a supplemental supply for 2,500 acres that are presently irrigated.

The irrigation district is part of the Willamette Basin Project, which consists of a system of storage dams and reservoir projects on tributaries of the Willamette River that are operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Reclamation has certificates of water right to store water in these reservoirs for irrigation use.

The Draft EA describes and analyzes the impacts of two alternatives, the No Action Alternative and the Proposed Alternative. The No Action Alternative is a decision by Reclamation to deny the District's application. The Proposed Action is an affirmative decision by Reclamation to enter a contract and provide 7,500 acre-feet of water.

Written comments should be sent to Bureau of Reclamation, Attn: Tanya Sommer, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 750, Portland OR 97232-1295, or faxed to (503) 872-2797. For information, telephone Sommer at (503) 872-2995. The draft EA for Greenberry Irrigation District will be located at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/oregon/greenberry/index.html. The deadline for public comments on the Draft EA ends March 19, 2007.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/oregon/greenberry/index.html