The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District begins filling the East Low Canal March 20. Water delivery will begin March 25.

“We have pretty consistent-type years,” said Craig Simpson, secretary-manager. “We always have fluctuations, but they’re generally not really drastic, unless some new acres come in or a lot of acres are taken out of production, which doesn’t really happen.”

There will be about 5,500 new acres on the EL 86.4 system. A new system comes online at the end of the canal to replace groundwater withdrawals with river water, after construction all winter, Simpson said.

“It’s really unique,” Simpson said.  The last time new acres were added was on the EL 47.5 system in 2022, he noted.

Deliveries to the district’s Block 49 from the Potholes East Canal will begin March 17.

The irrigation season typically runs from late March through October. The district will deliver water to about 179,000 acres this year, up from more than 172,000 acres in 2024.

Replacement water contracts

Of about 90,000 acres authorized for groundwater replacement, the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program presently has 31,840 acres remaining, which are not presently being served, constructed or in a design phase.

The program received more inquiries for replacement water contracts than the district is currently authorized to provide, totaling about 35,555 acres.

The district is deciding where to locate new pumping plants to distribute to the requested lands, Simpson said.

‘Good growers’

“I’ve got good growers, man,” Simpson said.

He thanked farmers for being patient in August 2024, after an “extensive” break at Mile 26 on the canal. The district repaired the break and restored water service to land owners in less than five days.

“Really, that’s indicative of the landowners we have,” Simpson said. “They’re a good group, they understood, they were patient with us. We appreciate our farmers. We’ve got a good group of people we deliver to. We’ll continue to try to deliver to them efficiently and give them what they need.”