Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region

Stanfield Irrigation District Consumptive Use Contract

The Bureau of Reclamation issued a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact for the Stanfield Irrigation District Consumptive Use Contract. Reclamation’s preferred action triggers the execution of a conjunctive use contract with Stanfield Irrigation District. Reclamation’s response to SID’s water service contract request meets Code of Federal Regulations, 43 CFR Part 429: Use of Bureau of Reclamation Land, Facilities, and Waterbodies, and Conjunctive Use, authorized in the 1988 Umatilla Project Act for SID.

SID has an existing exchange agreement with Reclamation that allows the district to divert 34,700 acre-feet of water from the Umatilla or Columbia rivers. This consumptive use contract provides SID with the ability to request the water be pumped from the Phase II system owned and operated by Reclamation and from the privately owned East Irrigation District pumping plant to deliver water for conjunctive use. Such requests could be made when conditions warrant the delivery of this water (i.e., drought or extremely dry conditions). Conjunctive use refers to the pumping of non-Umatilla Basin Project surface water using project facilities. Approximately 1,550 acre-feet of water would be used to pre-saturate irrigated lands in February during years with little snowpack or exceptionally low, soil-moisture content. Additionally, approximately 1,400 acre-feet of water would be used to supplement water supplies at the end of the irrigation season if the prior winter/spring was exceptionally dry, if the current irrigation season is exceptionally hot and dry, and if SID’s current water right for 34,700 acre-feet have been exhausted.

Contact

Chet Sater
Umatilla Field Office Manager
541-564-8616, ext. 201
csater@usbr.gov

Bureau of Reclamation
Umatilla Field Office
32871 Diagonal Road
Hermiston, OR 97838