Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Rep. Mary Dye R-9th District standing next to one of the giant hydro-pumps.
ODESSA - The Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP) is gaining traction with nearly $40 million in recent funding to shift Central Washington farmers from declining groundwater to sustainable surface water, state and federal officials announced. The initiative aims to preserve the Odessa Subarea aquifer while supporting the region's $4.6 billion agricultural economy.
In April 2025, Washington's State Capital Budget allocated $39.9 million for the EL-22.1 irrigation system near Moses Lake, delivering Columbia Basin Project water to deep-well irrigators. This follows $39.9 million in 2023 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, matched by state funds, to build three other systems-EL 80.6, EL 84.7, and EL 86.4. These projects, now underway, will conserve 55,278 acre-feet of groundwater annually across 18,426 acres.
The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, leads the effort. Expanded East Low Canal infrastructure and new pump stations mark significant progress, though additional funding is needed to transition 90,000 acres fully.
Rep. Mary Dye, R-9th District, emphasized collaboration. "Everybody is linking arms to find a solution," Dye said. "The help from USDA and the current administration has been phenomenal. It was the complete opposite with the last administration." Sen. Mark Schoesler and Rep. Dan Newhouse also praised the program's role in securing water for farmers and communities.
Dye underscored the long-term vision, saying, "Our forefathers didn't build for themselves. We need to give the next generations that same opportunity."
Challenges persist, including landowner costs for on-farm infrastructure and the need for further federal support.
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