Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program (IEGP)

Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program (IEGP) is sponsored by Washington State Conservation Commission. Helps conserve water by supporting agricultural irrigators and water purveyors in upgrading to more efficient irrigation systems.

Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program (IEGP) It's conservation district election time! Click here to learn how you can vote in your CD. Conservation District Resources Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program (IEGP) What is the Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program?

The Irrigation Efficiencies Grants Program (IEGP) helps conserve water by supporting Washington’s agricultural irrigators and water purveyors in upgrading to more efficient irrigation systems. Through partnerships with local conservation districts, the Washington State Conservation Commission provides financial incentives to implement irrigation improvements that reduce water use while maintaining or increasing on-farm productivity.

By saving water at the source, IEGP helps: Reduce pressure on aquifers Improve drought resilience Retain and retime water availability for ecological and agricultural benefits Together, these investments support both working lands and healthy waters across Washington. The Irrigation Efficiencies Grants Program (IEGP) has helped save water for people, farms, and fish since 2002.

Created by the Legislature in 2001, the program was designed to conserve irrigation water through efficiency upgrades while protecting instream flows for fish. IEGP made funding available to conservation districts to support irrigation efficiency improvements to: Conveyance systems (such as ditches), and Application systems (including flood, furrow, and sprinkler irrigation).

Water savings generated through IEGP projects were transferred to the state’s Trust Water Rights Program for instream use only. These protections were intended to benefit salmonid species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Initially, the program focused on the 16 Salmon Critical Basins identified in the 1999 Washington Statewide Strategy to Recover Salmon .

Over time, and through adaptive management and emerging water resource concerns, the program expanded to include other water-short basins through 2021. Historically, IEGP was funded through a legislative appropriation to the Washington State Department of Ecology, with program delivery contracted to the Washington State Conservation Commission. In recent biennia, funding has been appropriated directly to the Commission.

While earlier proviso language focused exclusively on instream flow enhancement, current program language allows the Commission to address a broader range of water resource needs. Since its inception, participating conservation districts have included: Asotin County, Cascadia (Chelan County), Clallam, Columbia, Kittitas County, North Yakima, Okanogan, Pomeroy (Garfield County), South Yakima, Underwood, Walla Walla County, and Whatcom.

IEGP grants fund conservation districts to provide direct, on-the-ground assistance to agricultural irrigators and water purveyors.

This includes: Identifying and assessing water-savings opportunities Designing and implementing efficiency projects Managing project development and administration Conservation districts also develop irrigation water management plans to support effective use of new systems and ensure long-term water savings. Monitoring is a core program component and helps verify project success and public benefit.

Conservation districts are the only eligible applicants for IEGP.

Eligible projects must be located in areas where water availability is a high-priority natural resource concern and must demonstrate measurable water savings that support one or more of the following outcomes: Instream flow protection or enhancement Water quality protection or improvement Mitigation of drought vulnerability Improved productivity or profitability on agricultural lands at risk of conversion Retiming of flows or water supply to address ecological or water management needs For conveyance or water purveyor projects, water savings must be eligible for protection through the state’s Trust Water Rights Program.

In some cases, the Program Manager may require a transfer of saved water to the Trust when state management is necessary to ensure the public benefit of the project. Conservation districts are encouraged to work directly with local irrigators and water purveyors to identify eligible projects and confirm water savings and Trust Water Rights considerations early in project development.

For questions about project eligibility or program requirements, contact the IEGP Program Manager at the Washington State Conservation Commission. Irrigation Water Management Planning Training Public Comment is open for the Grants & Contracts Manual Do you have comments on our updated program guidelines and Grant Manual? Water Resources Program Manager Check back later for releases about this program Funding is open!

Check out this informational webinar for questions or contact Jon Culp. Check out the files and publications related to the Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program. Find videos and trainings from this program.

Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program (IEGP) Funding Webinar This webinar was held to share information about IEGP funding guidelines, application rounds, and answer any questions. Hosted by SCC Water Resources Manager, Jon Culp. Conservation 101 - Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program SCC's Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program helps Washington farmers upgrade irrigation systems to save water and support stream health.

The program benefits agriculture, fish habitats, and climate resiliency by improving application and conveyance methods. Success Stories from this Grant Program Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program (IEGP) Benton Conservation District Conserving Water in the Columbia Basin Many farmers want to conserve water, but it can be difficult, risky, and expensive. That's where conservation districts come in.

They assist people, like Nestor Garcia from Blue Gem Farms, with making changes that work on-farm and benefit water quality and quantity.

Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program (IEGP) Clark Conservation District Clark Conservation District: Empowering urban/small acreage farms Hosts from Washington Grown visit April Joy Farm to learn how Clark Conservation District provides services that help conserve natural resources and keep the farm viable amid rapid development pressure.

Irrigation Efficiencies Grant Program (IEGP) North Yakima Conservation District North Yakima Conservation District: Ahtanum Creek and viable farmland North Yakima Conservation District works with landowners and ranchers to formulate effective, voluntary solutions to help stabilize Ahtanum Creek, as well as keep farmland viable.