News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Draft Report on Proposed Westland Boundary Adjustment

Media Contact: Ron Eggers , (503) 872-2795
Dave Kaumheimer

For Release: January 27, 2004

The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking comments by February 23, on a draft environmental assessment for a proposed boundary adjustment for the Westland Irrigation District, near Hermiston, Oregon. The boundary adjustment would modify the district's boundaries identified by the federal government.

Under the adjustments being considered, the federally recognized boundaries would be modified to match the state boundaries. Of the land potentially to be included in the federally recognized district boundary, up to 10,338 acres would be eligible to receive water stored in McKay Reservoir to be delivered by Westland Irrigation District. All of these lands are currently irrigated and have a primary state water right. Since 1995, water from McKay Reservoir has been delivered to these lands by Westland under a series of temporary water service contracts with Reclamation.

Three alternatives are identified and analyzed in the draft report. Under the "No Action Alternative," deliveries of federally supplied water by Westland to lands outside the current federally recognized irrigation district boundaries would cease. Under the action alternatives, some, or all, of these deliveries could continue.

The Draft Environmental Assessment is available on the Internet by following the link at www.usbr.gov/pn. Printed copies are available for review at libraries in Boardman, Echo, Hermiston, Pendleton, Pilot Rock, Stanfield, and Umatilla, Oregon. Copies are available at Reclamation offices in Hermiston and Portland, Oregon; Yakima, Washington; and Boise, Idaho. To obtain a copy of the Draft Environmental Assessment or a CD of the document, contact Dave Kaumheimer at UCA-1600, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Columbia Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima WA 98901, or fax (509) 454-5611, or email widpba@do.usbr.gov. For information, telephone (509) 575-5848, Ext. 232.

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