Senator Murray secured more than $3 million for Central Washington water priorities in USDA WaterSMART grants
Senator Murray secured more than $16 million in Bureau of Reclamation funding for Central Washington water infrastructure needs
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced funding for key water infrastructure priorities for Washington state: more than $3 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) WaterSMART Initiative for three Central Washington water projects and more than $16 million in funding from the Bureau of Reclamation for Central Washington water infrastructure needs.
“Right now, Washington state farmers and ranchers are fighting day in and day out to stay ahead of seriously low water supplies and a worsening climate crisis—so it’s really important we do everything we can to have their backs,” said Senator Murray. “These federal dollars are great news for producers along the Columbia Basin who have borne the brunt of today’s severe water shortage. Not only will these funds help to support water conservation for farmers and ranchers, but they will also benefit stream flows that strengthen our salmon recovery efforts. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will always make sure Washington state’s water infrastructure needs are a priority for the federal government.”
WaterSMART Grant Funding for Central Washington
Murray announced $1.8 million in new federal grant funding from USDA for the Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District West Canal Area, which was announced as one of three new priority areas nationwide to receive this funding, as part of a greater $25 million investment into water supply projects across the Western United States.
In addition to the WaterSMART grant to support the Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District West Canal Area, Senator Murray secured major investments in the end-of-year spending bill, through which two other ongoing priority areas in Washington state will receive a combined $2,087,000 in Fiscal Year 2023: Kittitas Reclamation District for canal lining, and Whitestone Reclamation District to help reduce water loss in canals.
These grants are a part of the USDA’s Environmental Quality Initiative Program (EQIP) WaterSMART Initiative (WSI), which was created in collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation to coordinate investments into water conservation and drought resilience projects across the country. This WSI investment was announced alongside the USDA’s new Western Water and Working Lands Framework for Conservation Action, which directs funds towards helping producers and communities address pressing climate challenges and build resiliency.
The Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District in Grant County used three WaterSMART grants, eliminating 1,939 acre-feet of water losses per year in the West Canal project area for use during drought conditions. With additional USDA agricultural producers—including historically underserved farmers—will be able to pipe over 6,900 linear feet of on-farm laterals, sub laterals, and open ditches saving an additional 2,400 acre-feet of water each year. Conversion to higher efficiency sprinkler systems will also help reduce soil erosion, improving the quality of collected tailwater for use further down the system. In addition to the water saving and drought resilience benefits, WSI funding will reduce nutrients transported to surface water from cropland, improve plant productivity and health on pasture, and improve wildlife habitat on associated agricultural land.
Bureau of Reclamation Funding for Central Washington
Additionally, the funding bill Murray passed last year delivers $325 million to the Bureau of Reclamation for work in five categories within the Water and Related Resources, amounting to over $16.2 million in total funding going to Central Washington. These investments will go to construction and preconstruction activities where environmental compliance has been completed and the project will improve water supply reliability, improve water deliveries, enhance economic development, promote job growth, advance Tribal and non-Tribal water studies and activities or address critical backlog maintenance and rehabilitation activities. Below are a list of Washington state water projects receiving funding announced by the Bureau of Reclamation for Fiscal Year 2023:
| Project | Description | Total Funding Amount |
| Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project | Supports the continued construction of the Cle Elum Fish Passage and associated structures; Water efficiency and reliability improvements in partnership with the state, tribal and irrigation districts; supports continued efforts on the North and South branch canal linings for the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) and Wapato Irrigation Project improvements; Supports continued efforts for improved integration and management of fish and wildlife resources through implementation of Toppenish Creek Corridor Enhancement activities. | $10,750,000 |
| Columbia and Snake River Salmon Recovery Project | Supports Columbia River System Operations litigation stay efforts to develop a long-term strategy to restore salmon operations and honors Federal commitments to Tribal Nations, as well as design efforts for the Upper Columbia Basin Habitat activities to accelerate construction schedules | $3,500,000 |
| Columbia Basin Project (Ephrata) | Continues implementation of the Potholes Supplemental Feed Route to support groundwater recharge through remediation efforts to prevent contamination of surface or groundwater | $2,000,000 |
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