The Harney Valley Groundwater CREP: A Proposal to Reduce Groundwater Use

Presentation to Harney SWCD

Origins

• Recognition of over allocation of groundwater in the basin
• Presentation from Idaho East Snake River Plains Groundwater Management (September, 2017) to the CBWP
• Research on Groundwater CREP programs throughout the West (2017-2018)
• Presentation of groundwater CREP programs to the Agriculture Working Group of the CBWP (May, 2018)
• CBWP Consensus decision for OWEB to support a tech team (November 28, 2018)
• Water Planning Collaborative presentation to state agency leadership including OWRD and OWEB (February 22, 2019)

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OWEB Technical Team Deliberations

• Invitation and composition of the technical team (Included all of the Agricultural Work Group and other Collaborative Members)
• Meeting with local irrigators to gauge support
• Meetings held by the technical team (9 meetings from April 2019 – April 2021)
• Presentations at meetings of County and State FSA Advisory Committees
• Ongoing coordination with OWEB and OWRD at staff and director level
• Presentation to OWEB board – Recommended for inclusion in OWEB 2021-2023 budget (to be decided on at July 2021 meeting)
• HB 2257 introduced by Rep Owens would provide some funding and support for position at OWRD (Now a part of the OWRD budget that passed the Senate Floor yesterday)
• Technical team review of final draft proposal – identified the need for more clarity on roles of agencies, accountability, and enforcement

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Eligibility Elements of the Current Proposal

• Goal to enroll 20,000 acres of groundwater irrigated cropland
• Require commitment to sign an affidavit to cancel water right(s) to enrolled fields for eligibility
• Requirement that at least 2 acre-feet of water/acre had been used for the last 4 of 5 years
• OWRD verifies that water rights are legal, and the enrollment will result in groundwater savings
• Other CRP requirements (property owned for at least 1 year, owner is eligible, etc.)

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Program Payments

• USDA payment for irrigated land rental for 15 years (Asking for $135/acre/year)
• Oregon Incentive payment for water right(s) cancellation ($55/acre/year for 15 years or $825/acre one-time payment)
• Oregon payment for capping well(s) up to $2,500
• Oregon incentive payment for wells affecting springs $1,000 to $5,000 one-time payment for potential to impact springs (based on distance and transmissivity)
• Limit of federal payment of $50,000/year to and single person (does not apply to state payments)

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What are the Benefits and Costs

Benefits to producers

• Predictable income for 15 years
• Opportunity to change operations over 15 years
• Potential for shifting to a grazing regime
• Voluntary choice for groundwater savings
• Protects from potential mandatory water shut off

Costs for Producers

• Lowers land value
• Reduces future income
• Requires a change in method of farm operation

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Agency Roles

• US Department of Agriculture
• Farm Service Agency – Federal contracting entity
• Natural Resources Conservation Service – Federal technical entity
• Oregon – State Sponsor
• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board – State contracting entity (may change with OWRD funding)
• Oregon Water Resources Department – State technical entity
• Local Groups
• SWCD could be a technical assistance provider
• SWCD could provide outreach

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• Oregon will handle all water right issues.

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Issues to Address

• Complex irrigation systems – OWRD must be able to certify that groundwater will be saved by the enrollment
• Accountability for public expenditures – There must be a way to track and document the amount of groundwater use that is reduced both in the short term and long term
• Enforcement of reduced groundwater use – The contract provisions need to be specific about the remedies if groundwater is not saved.
• Non-federal match – The program is dependent on non-federal match (30% of total costs). While the 15-year costs cannot be assured they can be met on a biennial basis. If the state does not match the federal funds, the program will be halted or terminated.

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Schedule and Next Steps

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Additional Opportunities for Input

• Technical Team Review and response following FSA Washington D.C. review and comment
• Environmental Assessment public review

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Questions ?