We are very pleased to announce that Jerry Erstrom of Vale, Oregon was granted the 2011 Watsave Award by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) for his work on the Willow Creek Piping Project. The Watsave Award includes a stipend of $2,000.
The Willow Creek Piping Project addresses 35,000 acres within the Willow Creek basin adjacent to the Willow Creek and Malheur River. The total length of delivery canals and laterals under the piping project is approximately 65 linear miles with 51.4 linear miles already completed. Prior to the Willow Creek Piping Project, all irrigation water was delivered to users from the main canal through a complex network of open earthen ditches. These systems were established in the 1930s, increasing concerns associated with breaches as well as human and animal safety. Open canals also substantially increased operation and maintenance costs for the Vale Oregon Irrigation District.
As implemented by the project, piping irrigation laterals virtually eliminated conveyance losses from seepage and evaporation, provided gravity pressurized water to farmers and decreased power costs by reducing or eliminating the need to operate irrigation pumps, improved reliability, control, and consistency of water delivery and measurement, provided possible opportunities for small “low-head” hydro-power facilities, and utilized water more effectively in connection with irrigation without increasing consumption.
Once the project is completed it is estimated that 400,000 pounds of CO2 emissions will be eliminated annually, 36,000 pounds of phosphorous will be prevented from leaving the field annually, 120,000 tons of annual soil loss will cease, 183.5 billion colonies of E.coli bacteria per acre will be prevented from leaving the fields, and virtually all seepage and evaporation will be eliminated. Additionally, 2 to 3 million Kilowatt hours of electricity will be saved annually and 25,000 gallons of diesel fuel will be conserved per year. Water conservation benefits will amount to more than 12,000 acre feet of irrigation water savings annually. Finally, the economic advantages of this project will amount to the potential of 15 jobs, $81,000 per year in fuel costs saved, $115,000 in electrical pumping costs saved annually, the participation of at least 23 Oregon businesses and $1.8 million generated for the economies of Ontario and Vale, Oregon.
Recently, Larry Stephens of the United States Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (USCID) traveled to Iran to accept the ICID award on behalf of Jerry and the project. Because Jerry was unable to receive the award in person, USCID took the opportunity to congratulate and honor Jerry and his colleagues on their accomplishments at the 2011 USCID San Diego Conference.
For additional sources regarding the project, please view the following links:
• http://www.capitalpress.com/content/ml-water-project-awarded-011312
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4RBXwH6sQg
• http://www.icid.org/awards.html#farmer
