CBSWC Stakeholders Visit OGWRP’s Newly Completed EL 86.4 Public Delivery System

On Thursday, July 17, 2025, the Columbia Basin Sustainable Water Coalition (CBSWC), the Columbia Basin Conservation District (CBCD), and the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District (ECBID) hosted a field tour in place of the regular CBSWC stakeholder meeting. This tour offered over 45 participants a firsthand look at the newly completed Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP) EL 86.4 public delivery system.

CBSWC stakeholders and OGWRP partners at the Lind Coulee Siphon.

The event brought together representatives from municipalities, counties, conservation districts, irrigation districts, agricultural producers, technical consultants, and state and federal agencies to observe recent progress in surface water delivery and groundwater conservation efforts.

Dr. Sasha Richey, Washington State University (WSU) Assistant Professor, sharing insights with stakeholders about the research that her team at WSU is doing to assist with the OGWRP and the Columbia Basin Groundwater Cooperative Interactive Web Application.

The EL 86.4 delivery system represents a major milestone in OGWRP implementation. Through this infrastructure, 5,426 acres have been converted from deep well irrigation to Columbia River surface water via the Columbia Basin Project, the largest irrigation project in the western United States. This conversion has allowed 16 deep wells to be taken offline, conserving approximately 16,143 acre-feet of groundwater each year, or more than 5.3 billion gallons, from the declining Odessa Subarea Aquifer.

From left to right: Rep. Alex Ybarra, Washington State Department of Agriculture employee, and Griffin Hansen, CBCD.

Throughout the tour, landowners and project partners shared insights into the planning, engineering, and funding that made the system possible. Producers emphasized the benefits of increased water reliability, soil health improvements, and reduced pumping costs, while agency and district staff highlighted the collaborative process and long-term vision behind OGWRP.

The tour coincided with renewed state-level support for continued expansion. The Washington State Legislature recently approved $38.5 million in the 2025–2027 capital budget to support construction of the EL 22.1 delivery system. This investment will enable additional acreage to transition off groundwater, contributing to regional aquifer recovery and agricultural resilience.

Snack bags, thanks to Katherine Taiclet, with Landau Associates.

CBSWC extends sincere thanks to Katherine Taiclet with Landau Associates, who generously provided snacks and cold water for attendees. CBSWC also thanks all the stakeholders, partners, and producers who joined the tour and continue to support this important work.

CBSWC remains committed to advancing OGWRP goals through strong partnerships, transparent communication, and a shared commitment to sustainable water use in the Columbia Basin.

For more information about the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program, visit www.ogwrp-programs.org. To stay up to date on CBSWC news, upcoming meetings, tours, and events, subscribe to the newsletter at www.cbswc.org/subscribe.