A scoping meeting will take place on August 19th at 6pm at the Winthrop Barn (51 State Rte 20, Winthrop, WA 98862). The public is invited to this meeting to learn more about the project that aims to pipe the remaining 5.3 miles of open irrigation ditch that stretches from the Chewuch River to Pearrygin Lake. Experts will be in attendance as panelists to discuss the benefits of this project, share experiences with projects of this type, and discuss some of the most frequent questions regarding the project.
Project Partners on the Panel:
Jordana Ellis | Okanogan Conservation District - Irrigation Planner
Casey Canby | Chewuch Canal Company (CCC) - President
Craig Boesel | Chewuch Canal Company (CCC) - Former president & Local Farmer
Charles (Chuck) Brushwood | Colville Confederated Tribes - Fish & Wildlife Policy Advisor
Tyson Carlson | Aspect Consulting - Hydrogeologist
Kelsey Collins | Central Region Trust Water Right Coordinator for Department of Ecology
Megan Kernan | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife - Acting Division Manager
If you have questions for the panel, please send those to Jordana Ellis at jordana@okanogancd.org.
Meeting agenda -
FAQs -
More about this project:
The need:
Failing infrastructure in the water delivery system for the Chewuch Canal Company (CCC) is threatening the dependable delivery of currently allocated water supply to agricultural, tribal, state, residential, and recreational users in the Methow Valley.
The current open canal system is prone to significant water losses due to evaporation and seepage, which not only wastes a critical resource but also affects the availability of water for agricultural, environmental, and recreational uses.
The CCC supplies the water rights to 175+ shareholders of seasonal use water from the Chewuch River in the upper portion of the Methow Valley above Winthrop down valley to above the town of Twisp. A service that supports the irrigation of 1,136 acres.
Among those shareholders supported by the 13.5 miles of canal are the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Methow Conservancy, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington State Parks. The system also delivers water to Pearrygin Lake that is the focal point of Pearrygin Lake State Park
The project:
Install 5.3 miles of pipe capable of delivering 15 cfs with 40 turnouts to accommodate delivery. Pipe will be installed in the current footprint of the ditch where possible and remain within current right of way.
Instillation will include: the infrastructure to deliver water to Pearrygin Lake; a connection to the already piped portion of the canal system; and six road crossings where culverts will be replaced/updated.
The benefits:
The project will produce water conservation and supply security as well as create economic and environmental benefits. By piping the irrigation canal, we can significantly reduce water losses. This will ensure the secure dependable delivery system for water capable of supporting 15 cfs of flow to supply water to agricultural, and seasonal irrigation users, in the Methow Valley.
With a piped system, we can better manage and allocate water resources, ensuring that water is available when and where it is needed. This is particularly important in times of drought or other water scarcity conditions.
Reducing water losses and improving water quality will have positive effects on the local ecosystem. It will help maintain healthier river and stream flows, which are essential for the wildlife that depend on these water sources.
The water saved from improving the efficiency of the Chewuch Canal’s delivery system will return 17 cfs to instream flows (in a river that supports ESA listed salmon habitat) and into the Trust Water Right Program in perpetuity. The Chewuch Canal Company is committed to maintaining not only the water resources of the Methow Valley, but also the inherent beauty and character of the area by including in the design of the project re-habilitation and replanting to mitigate the impacts of construction.
This project will support the economic stability of our agricultural sector as well as our business that are supported by recreation. This, in turn, will benefit the wider community by ensuring a steady supply of locally grown products and supporting local jobs.
To learn more about the project, please contact Jordana Ellis at jordana@okanogancd.org.
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