On the Ground with OGWRP: A Special Stakeholder Tour of the New EL 86.4 System

The Columbia Basin Sustainable Water Coalition (CBSWC) invites you to a special July Stakeholder Meeting—a field tour of the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program’s (OGWRP) new 86.4 system! This is your opportunity to see firsthand how the region is working to secure a more sustainable water future through collaborative innovation and infrastructure investment.

Tour Details:

Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025

Time: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Meet at 8:30 AM for a 9:00 AM departure)

Meeting Location: East Columbia Basin Irrigation District Office

55 N 8th Ave, Othello, WA 99344

During the tour, participants will visit the new OGWRP EL 86.4 public system and on-farm locations in Franklin County. The EL 86.4 system recently converted 5,426 acres from deep well irrigation to Columbia River surface water through the Columbia Basin Project. This transition has taken 16 wells offline, effectively conserving 16,143 acre-feet (approximately 5.3 billion gallons) of water annually in the Odessa Subarea Aquifer.

This field tour is an excellent opportunity to hear from project partners and landowners who are helping drive sustainable agriculture and protect critical water resources.

Learn more about the EL 86.4 system here →

How to Participate:

To join the tour, please complete the registration form here. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

To learn more about OGWRP, visit www.ogwrp-programs.org.

We look forward to seeing you out in the field as we explore one of the most significant water sustainability efforts in the Columbia Basin!