December 2024
Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District and Trout Unlimited were awarded $535,868 through the
Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) Water Projects Grants and Loans funding program for an irrigation
modernization project at Sweet Cron Farm in Kerby (Josephine County). This project will upgrade irrigation
efficiency by converting from flood and drip irrigation to pivot irrigation on 33.4 acres. This irrigation efficiency
project will conserve water while improving stream flow for native fish. This strategic upgrade is
expected to enhance water distribution efficiency by 30-50% and increase agricultural production while using less
water. The shift from flood irrigation will reduce water waste and ensure more precise watering, ultimately
increasing crop yields and eliminating water quality impacts from return flows. This project will occur in the Illinois
River watershed that has been identified by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and OWRD as the highest
priority need and opportunity for flow restoration which aligns with conservation efforts for native fish species,
particularly the Endangered Species Act-listed coho salmon, chinook salmon, steelhead, Pacific lamprey, and
cutthroat trout. Through the OWRD’s Allocation of Conserved Water program, the conserved water will be left
in-stream for fish. Grant funding is available for water supply projects that result in economic, environmental, and
social/cultural public benefits.
Kerby – The Oregon Water Resources Commission awarded $535,868 to Illinois Valley Soil and Water
Conservation District and Trout Unlimited for the Sweet Cron Irrigation Modernization Project at their December
12, 2024 meeting.
The award was one of 4 water project grants to local organizations statewide totaling $8,132,255 to support water
supply projects that result in economic, environmental, and social/cultural public benefits.
“It’s going to be kind of a win-win. It’s going to help us, it’s going to help our plants, and it’s going to help the water
in the river. It’s going to save us an immense amount of labor,” says Linda Nelsen, co-owner of the Sweet Cron
Farm.
In the Sweet Cron Irrigation Modernization project, the goal is to significantly improve irrigation efficiency by
converting from flood and drip irrigation to center-pivot irrigation on 33.4 acres. This strategic upgrade is expected
to enhance water distribution by 30-50%, benefiting agricultural production. The shift from flood irrigation will
reduce water waste and ensure more precise watering, ultimately increasing crop yields and eliminating water
quality impacts from return flows. This project will occur in a watershed identified by ODFW and OWRD as the
highest priority need and opportunity for flow restoration which aligns with conservation efforts for native fish
species, particularly the Endangered Species Act-listed coho salmon, fall chinook, winter steelhead, Pacific
lamprey, and cutthroat trout. It will also be the first pivot irrigation system installed in the Illinois Valley.
Funding for OWRD’s Water Project Grants and Loans grants, awarded by the Water Resources Commission,
comes from the sale of lottery revenue bonds.
For additional information about this project contact John Bellville ([email protected]). For
additional information about OWRD and its grant programs, contact [email protected].
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