USDA-NRCS ADOPTION OF THE 2012 ODESSA SUBAREA SPECIAL STUDY FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PRODUCED BY THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION IN COOPERATION WITH THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, REPRESENTED BY THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to adopt the Odessa Subarea Special Study FEIS, United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), 2012 under the provisions of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR section 1506.3). The USBR Record of Decision (ROD), April 2013, amended September 2013, documented the selection of Alternative 4A Modified Partial-Replacement-Banks with Limited Spring Diversion Scenario (Alternative 4A).

NRCS is conducting supplemental analysis, performing agency coordination, and obtaining public input to further determine that the NRCS proposed action is substantially the same as the actions described in Alternative 4A, summarized here. Alternative 4A aims to replace acre-for-acre groundwater irrigation on 70,000 acres in the Odessa Subarea with 164,000 acre-feet of new Columbia River diversions. Since Reclamation published the FEIS in 2012, the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program—a consortium of local, state, and federal partners—has worked towards phased implementation of Alternative 4A. NRCS is adopting the FEIS to support implementation of Alternative 4A. Implementing Alternative 4A will support agriculture and address groundwater depletion impacting agricultural, municipal, industrial, and commercial users in the Odessa Subarea.

The Odessa Subarea aquifer is experiencing significant decline in groundwater levels, which is affecting groundwater quality and agricultural, domestic, commercial, municipal, and industrial well users. Many of the agricultural groundwater wells in the area currently are drilled to a depth of 800 to 1,000 feet, with some as deep as 2,100 feet. Some wells in the area have been reported out of production. Drilling deeper wells is not feasible because deeper water may not be available, may be potentially unusable, and/or be too expensive to access. As a result of this decline, the ability of producers to irrigate their crops is at risk.

If no action is taken, declining groundwater availability will continue in the Odessa Subarea. A 2005 regional economic study estimated lost potato production and processing due to continued aquifer decline. to be about $630 million annually in regional sales, 3,600 lost jobs and $211 million in lost regional income.

Public comments may be submitted until 30 days after the Notice of Availability is published in the Federal Register, which is estimated to be on December 8, 2023. Comments may be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., submitted online at https://www.ogwrp-programs.org/watershed-plan, submitted via phone at (541) 716-6085, or mailed to Farmers Conservation Alliance, 102 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031.