Natural Resources Conservation Service

United States Department of Agriculture

AWEP Projects Approved For Fiscal Year 2009

2009 Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

Following is a list of Fiscal Year 2009 AWEP project proposals approved by the Chief of the NRCS. Project proposals are approved based upon an estimated amount of funding requested by the partner and the final approved funding may change during the process to approve the partnership agreement.

If additional AWEP funding becomes available, more projects may be approved and this website will be updated, as needed. After the partnership agreements have been approved, the project will be announced by NRCS in each State and eligible farmers and ranchers may apply for program benefits.

The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the authority for AWEP to the NRCS Chief. Under AWEP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) enters into partnership agreements with eligible entities that want to promote ground and surface water conservation or improve water quality on agricultural lands. Program applicants must meet eligibility requirements of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

The following information includes the States in which the project will be carried out, the name of the partner organization, the project title, and the total amount of NRCS funding requested by the partner.

The USDA news release regarding financial assistance for AWEP projects approved for fiscal year 2009 is available on the USDA site and as a PDF download (PDF, 20KB). Please note that the amount of financial assistance provided to approved projects will change ever fiscal year depending upon appropriations and agency priorities.

Agricultural producers in selected project areas may apply for available AWEP funds at their local USDA Service Center. Once an application is selected, an eligible agricultural producer will enter into a contract with NRCS to implement approved conservation practices. Through these EQIP program contracts, NRCS provides payments to agricultural producers for implementing conservation practices.

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AWEP Project Proposals Approved for Fiscal Year 2009 (PDF, 44KB) updated August 2009

State	Name of Organization/ Partner	Project Title	Project Description	Total Project Request
AL	Alabama Farmers Federation	Alabama Farmers Federation AWEP Proposal	Producer assistance to increase agricultural efficiency through expansion of irrigation capacity.	$2,915,000
AR	White River Regional Irrigation Distribution District	White River Regional Irrigation Distribution District	Install water measurement and monitoring technology on approximately 1000 farms includes, flow meters, soil moisture sensors, electric well pumps, Diesel well pumps, electric re-lift pumps packages	$4,450,000
CA	Tulare Irrigation District	Tulare irrigation District	Enhance water supply by implementing water quality and quantity measures. More efficiency irrigation systems, from high to low pressure systems	$4,000,000
CA	Sutter County Resource Conservation District	Gilsizer Slough	Install 40 high efficiency irrigation systems (50% water saving) Adopt nutrient and pest management practices for 40 producers, Install 40 vegetative cover crops and filter strips et	$5,750,000
CA	California Land Stewardship Institute	California Land Stewardship Institute	Increase the reliability of agriculture water supply, Improve stream flow and water quality, Improve water use efficiency etc	$5,700,000
CA	Coalition For Urban/Rural Environmental Stewardship	Northern San Joaquin River Water Quality Partnership	Reduce sedimentation in waterways, pesticide and nutrient loading, pathogen inputs, and conserve water. (see pg. 13) Approximately 550,000 acres to requiring treatment, expect 250 producers to enroll in project.	$10,000,000
CA	Central Coast Irrigation and Nutrient Management	Central Coast Irrigation and Nutrient Management	Provide water quality through reduced runoff and leaching of nutrients, reduction of water usage,	$5,798,504
CA	Alameda County Resource Conservation District	Southern Alameda Creek Ranch Water Quality Project	Reduction of contaminants entering Calaveras Reservoir, creeks, streams and San Francisco Bay (64,00 acres, 25 producers)	$570,000
CA	North Cal-Neva RC&D, Inc	Improving of Water Quality and Quantity in the Upper Pit River in Northeast California	Focus on lowering water temperature, increasing dissolved oxygen, and reducing amount of nutrient entering the Pit river	$2,600,000
CA	Western United Dairymen	Western Untied Dairymen Project	Improving wastewater utilization systems. Reducing potential surface water runoff on 550,000 acres over a three year period.	$17,300,000
CA	Westlands Water District	Westlands Water District	Increase seasonal application efficiency, Increase distribution uniformity, Increase crop yields, Decrease deep percolation, Decrease the effects of soil salinity	$10,000,000
CA	Yolo County Resource Conservation District	Yolo County	Increase irrigation efficiency decrease irrigation runoff, sediment delivery, and improve ground water quality for approximately 40,000 acres	$5,000,000
CA	California Association of Resource Conservation Districts	Processing Tomato Irrigation Efficiency Program	Improving irrigation efficiency for 30 producers on approximately 12,000 acres in a 5 year period.	$600,435
CA	Ventura County Resource Conservation District	Irrigation Efficiency Mobile - Implementation rebates	Evaluate effectiveness of irrigation systems, uniformity, pump efficiency, energy usage etc	$600,000
CA	Kings River Conservation District	Kings River Conservation District	Improve irrigation system efficiency, micro-irrigation, tail water recovery system for 650 growers on 27,000 acres	$14,000,000
CA	Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District and the Klamath Trinity Resource Conservation District	Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District	Upgrade open ditch transmission lines with efficient close pipe system, install meters (monitoring, leaks)	$741,262
CA+ OR	Lava Beds-Butte Valley resource Conservation District	Lava Beds-Butte Valley resource Conservation District	Improve irrigation efficiency and nutrient management, restore wetland habitat (60,000 acres)	$3,750,000
CO	Republican River Water Conservation District Water Activity Enterprise	Republican River Water Conservation District Water Activity Enterprise	Reduce water use in basin by 35,000 acre feet, thus increasing stream flow and improving habitat	$1,000,000
FL	Southwest Florida Water Management District	Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS)	Reduce ground water withdrawals from the Upper Floridian aquifer, preventing saltwater intrusion.	$3,790,000
GA	Flint RiverSoil and Water Conservation District	Marly Agricultural Water Conservation in the Lower Flint River Basin	Conserve water efficiency, updating systems with low pressure drop nozzle retrofits with end gun shut off, remote soil moisture monitoring encompassing 27 counties in SW GA	$10,000,000
GA	GA Soil and Water Conservation Commission	Implementing Water Conservation BMP's for Small, Undeserved Organic and Sustainable Agricultural Producers in NE GA	Increase water conservation and water use efficiency on small, organic and sustainable farms. Install BMP's addressing irrigation improvements and irrigation efficiency	$434,495
IA	Rathbun Land and Water Alliance	Protect Rathbun Lake Project: A Targeted Approach to Water Resource Enhancement	To reduce the amount of sediment and phosphorus entering Rathbun Lake by applying BMP's (pg. 5)	$794,750
IA	Idaho Water Resource Board	Idaho Water Resource Board	Reduce water usage by 20 kaf over 5 years, switching to dryland farming (10,000 acres, 125 producers, 160 ac/producer	$8,960,000
ID	Idaho Soil Conservation Commission	Pilger Project	Converting surface irrigation systems to wheel line and pivot sprinkler systems. Increase water application efficiencies more than 35 % (8 producers)	$362,000
ID	Portneuf Marsh Valley Canal Company	Portneuf Marsh Valley Canal Company	Placing water through pipe in canal or concreting canal bottom conserving water from seepage	$18,580,000
ID	Idaho Soil Conservation Commission	Thorn Creek Watershed	Increase irrigation application efficiencies through conversion from surface to sprinkle systems	$961,335
IL	Mason County Soil and Water Conservation District	Mason County, Illinois	Converting high pressure systems to low, more uniformity, treating approx.1400 acres. 10 producers	$509,310
IN	LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District	LaPorte County, IN Irrigation System Efficiency and Scheduling Program	To improve irrigation water mgt. on 298,240 acres (uniformity and run-off potential)	$486,000
MI+IN	Michigan Association of Conservation Districts	Michigan Association of Conservation Districts	Improve irrigation water utilization and system uniformity by 10%, Monitor & Evaluate, Improve WQ in the south eastern Lake MI watershed (190,000 acres over 5 years)	$27,000,000
MN, ND, SD	Red River Basin Commission	Red River Basin Commission AWEP Project	Projects to improve water quality (reducing nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment) in Red River Basin some 40,000 square miles.	$1,200,000
MS	Yazoo Mississippi Delta Joint Water Management District	Conservation of Groundwater from the Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer	Tailwater recovery, water management (flow meters), Install on-farm storage reservoirs	$14,000,000
MS	Tunica County Soil & Water Conservation District	Tunica County SWCD, Mississippi, AWEP	To improve irrigation water mgt. on 90,000 acres over a 5 year period by reducing non-point source pollution using agri. water enhancement practices (pg. 10)	$2,000,000
NC	North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources	Conservation Irrigation Conversion Initiative	Over 174,000 acres will benefit from water quality/quantity enhancements. improved irrigation systems , more efficiency	$475,000
ND	Buford Trenton Irrigation District	Buford Trenton Irrigation District	To convert gravity flood application method to sprinkler (400 ac/yr). Tail water recovery (200 ac/yr)	$249,000
ND	Suwannee River Partnership	Irrigation Pump/Power Unit Retrofit Program - to Conserve Water, Improve Air Quality and Reduce Energy Cost	Improve irrigation efficiency to save water (5-10%) and reduce energy (40%) Over 10,000 acres to participate	$750,000
ND	North Central Soil Conservation District	North Central Soil Conservation District	Ground water quality , reduction of nitrogen in soil after crop harvested (nutrient and pest Mgt conservation tillage , crop rotation)	$480,000
ND	Wells County Soil Conservation District	Wells County Soil Conservation District	Adopt new treatments that will enhance water quality / quantity measures on 4000 acres (see pg. 8)	$299,626
ND	North Dakota Irrigation Association	North Dakota Irrigation Association	Addressing water quality and quantity issues on 100,000 acres for approximately 35 producers. Changing from flood to pivot irrigation etc...	$3,790,000
NE	Little Blue Natural Resources District	Little Blue Natural Resources District	Convert 30 gravity irrigated farms to sprinklers; convert from irrigated to dryland, sprinkler conversion from high pressure to low. Converting a total of 90 farms in a 3 year period	$3,000,000
NE	University of Nebraska	Lower Big Blue Natural Resource District, Beatrice Nebraska	300 operators to participate in irrigation scheduling to reduce water use and improve water use efficiency. Another 45 operators to participate in the small dam development, 8000 acre indirectly affected	$250,000
NE	The Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District	NE Conservation- Irrigation Project - Ogallala Aquifer Area	Irrigation system improvement and irrigation efficiency enhancement (uniformity)	$1,552,450
NE	Middle Republican Natural Resources District	Middle Republican Natural Resources District	Going from irrigated to dryland farming, convert from gravity to pivot	$3,127,000
NE	Lower Platte North Natural Resource District	Lower Platte North NRD Efficient Water Use Project	Irrigated to dryland production or irrigation water mgt. utilizing a flow meter	$1,831,000
NJ	North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council	Addressing Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution In Priority Watersheds of the Raritan River Basin	Reducing pollutants (mainly phosphorous) from entering the Raritan River Basin, consisting of 1100 square miles	$2,000,000
NM	Deming Soil and Water Conservation District	Deming Soil and Water Conservation District	Convert flood irrigation to drip irrigation, reduce water usage.	$2,400,000
NM	Pueblo Of Sandia	Pueblo Of Sandia	Land leveling and irrigation ditch lining	$89,272
NM	Fort Sumner Irrigation District	Fort Sumner Irrigation District	To improve water efficiency on approximately 7152 acres. Structure for water control, irrigation ditch and canal lining, and irrigation land level	$500,000
NM	The Pueblo of Santa Ana	Irrigation Water Conveyance and Water Quality Improvements on the Pueblo of Santa Ana	Irrigation water conveyance (lining ditch, 4.2 miles)	$738,810
NM	Pueblo of Jemez	Pueblo of Jemez AWEP Project	Rehabilitate and cleanout stock ponds and other improvements on Tribal lands	$49,420
NY	Watershed Agricultural Council	Watershed Agricultural Council	Protecting water quality using BMP's (AWS, pesticide storage facility, fertilizer storage, nutrient mgt., etc for 249 farms on more than 100,000 acres	$2,000,000
OK	High Plains RC&D Association, Inc	Conservation of the Ogallala Aquifer in Oklahoma	Install practices that will result in a net water savings and improvement in water use efficiency (Micro irrigation, Sprinkler, low pressure pivot, Residue Mgt., Crop Rotation, etc	$1,375,000
OK	Jackson County Conservation District	Jackson County Conservation District AWEP Project	Projects to address water quality excessive nutrient and organics, salinity, and sedimentation. Water quantity excessive runoff, flooding and ponding, inefficient water use, aquifer overdraft etc..	$4,532,000
OR	Deschutes River Conservancy	Mckay Creek Water Conservation	Improving irrigation efficiency, going from flood irrigation to sprinkle irrigation.	$229,757
OR	The Dalles Irrigation District:	The Dalles Irrigation District	To improve efficiency of irrigation 88 system on 5500 acres. Replace 230 flow meters, also, apply scientific irrigation scheduling	$1,123,764
OR	Vale Oregon Irrigation District	Malheur Watershed Basin Irrigation Efficiency and Water Quality Protection project	Reduce water use and eliminate irrigation return flow from 12,000 acres of flood and furrow irrigated land.	$1,500,000
OR	Klamath Basin Rangleland Trust	Dryland grazing and instream flow protection in the Upper Klamath Lake watershed	Converting 15,000 flood irrigated pasture to dryland grazing	$9,000,000
OR	Three Sisters Irrigation District	McKenzie Canyon Irrigation	Improve instream flows, water quality, and provide farmers with reliable supply of water	$1,204,312
OR	Marion Soil Water Conservation District Salem USDA Service Center	Zollner Creek	Irrigation efficiency and management for approximately 20 producers on 1000 acres reducing sedimentation, bacteria, and other pollutants by implementing BMP's (see pg. 7).	$1,000,000
OR	Burnt River Soil & Water Conservation District	Burnt River Watershed Enhancement Project	Improve the overall health of the Burnt River Basin. Converting 10% (1200 ac) of irrigated acres to high efficient irrigation systems.	$864,900
OR	Umatilla Basin Watershed Council	Umatilla Basin Watershed Council	Improve irrigation efficiency for producers on the east fork of Birch Creek (4 producers and 160 acres)	$38,612
TX	Texas Water Development Board	Texas Agriculture Water Conservation Enhancement Program-Ogallala Aquifer	Provide the most efficient and cost effective irrigation water conservation. Irrigation system improvement (drip & micro irrigation), Irrigation efficiency enhancements (irr. water mgt) etc..	$38,000,000
TX	Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board	Water Quality Improvement Project for the Leon River	Improve water quality in the Leon River by reducing bacteria levels using BMP's (pg. 5)	$500,000
TX	Post Oak RC&D	Brazos Bottom Irrigation Water Management	To impact approximately 23,000 acres of irrigated land by install more efficient irrigation equipment and installing BMP's	$2,708,000
TX	Chisholm Trail RC&D, Inc	Lake Arrowhead Watershed Project to improve available water quantity	To enhance surface water availability through brush control or suppression, range seeding, prescribed grazing, fencing, farm ponds, water wells and pipelines on 185,248 acres	$500,000
TX	University of Texas	Water Enhancement Projects for Drought Mitigation and Water Conservation on University Lands, Owned and managed by University of Texas System	Address water quality and water conservation issues such as such as; soil water deficits, drought, reduction in aquifer quantity and quality, the increase in evapotranspiration on UL grazing lands in West Texas. Approximately 2.1 million acres and 116 producers.	$700,000
WA	Washington State University	Farm planning, cover cropping, and soil testing to improve water quality in Puget Sound	To improve water quality in the Puget Sound region by improving soil quality and reducing non-point source pollution	$296,800