Washington Approves Nearly $40M for Water Projects in Three Counties

Grant, Adams, and Lincoln counties in central Washington have secured nearly $40 million in state funding to advance the EL 22.1 Water Infrastructure Project, the largest irrigation initiative under the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program. The project aims to replace groundwater withdrawals with a surface water supply from the Columbia River, helping to address declining aquifer levels and promote long-term agricultural sustainability. Once completed, the system will eliminate 34 deep wells, conserve about 17 billion gallons of groundwater annually, support over 70 farm families, and save an estimated 52,000 megawatt-hours of energy each year. Despite the significant funding, project leaders note that additional resources will be required to fully build the system, highlighting the scale and importance of the investment for both municipal and agricultural needs in the region.