Umatilla Project

Umatilla Project
Name	Umatilla Project
Location	Umatilla County, Oregon; Benton County, Washington
Type	Irrigation and hydroelectric project
Built	1908–1917
Architect	U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Owner	U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Status	Operational

Umatilla Project

The Umatilla Project is a federal irrigation and hydropower development in the Columbia River basin involving dams, reservoirs, canals, and pumping facilities that serve parts of Umatilla County, Oregon, Morrow County, Oregon, and Benton County, Washington. Constructed primarily by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the early 20th century, the project links to regional water management schemes such as the Bonneville Project and McNary Dam and interacts with agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The project affects navigation on the Columbia River, irrigation districts like the West Extension Irrigation District, and fish habitat linked to the Columbia River Treaty and tribal resources of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Overview

The project comprises a system coordinated with the Columbia Basin Project, delivering irrigation water via canal networks, pumping plants, and storage reservoirs associated with structures such as McKay Dam, Adams Dam (Oregon), and diversion works near the City of Umatilla, Oregon and the Port of Umatilla. It forms part of federal initiatives that include the Reclamation Act of 1902 and the Irrigation Act of 1916, and its operations are informed by rulings and policies from bodies like the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The project’s footprint touches municipalities such as Hermiston, Oregon, Pendleton, Oregon, and Boardman, Oregon and intersects transportation corridors including Interstate 84.

History and Development

Initial surveys were conducted by engineers from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the aftermath of the Bonneville Power Administration formation, building on regional development precedents set by the Grand Coulee Dam and the Yakima Project. Construction began in the 1900s with land acquisition influenced by policies like the Homestead Act and disputes involving landholders and entities such as the Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company. The project evolved through New Deal-era programs including the Public Works Administration and saw federal funding align with wartime needs during World War II that affected materials and labor sourced from unions like the American Federation of Labor. Indigenous consultation developed over time, especially with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and legal frameworks influenced by cases such as United States v. Washington.

Infrastructure and Technical Specifications

Key structures include McKay Dam creating McKay Reservoir, diversion works at the Umatilla River confluence, pumping plants that draw from the Columbia River, and a network of lined and unlined canals that feed farms in the Umatilla Basin. Electrical generation is coordinated with regional utilities including the Bonneville Power Administration and private entities like Pacific Power and incorporates turbines similar to those at Wells Dam and The Dalles Dam. Engineering standards reference manuals used by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and practices from firms such as MWH Global and CH2M Hill. Water measurement follows protocols set by the United States Geological Survey and involves telemetry systems compatible with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hydrologic models.

Operations and Management

Day-to-day management is by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in partnership with local irrigation districts including the Umatilla Basin Project Irrigation District and municipal water suppliers like the City of Hermiston Public Works. Coordination occurs with power marketing agencies such as the Bonneville Power Administration and regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Marine Fisheries Service for fish passage requirements. Operations balance seasonal irrigation demand from growers represented by groups such as the Oregon Farm Bureau Federation and industrial water users including the Port of Morrow. Emergency response plans align with protocols from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state agencies like the Oregon Water Resources Department.

Environmental and Ecological Impacts

Impacts include altered flow regimes affecting Columbia River salmon and steelhead populations protected under the Endangered Species Act and overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Habitat changes implicate wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention principles and intersect with conservation efforts by organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Water quality and temperature issues engage the Environmental Protection Agency standards and monitoring by the United States Geological Survey, while mitigation projects have involved riparian restoration funded through programs like the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and executed in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Recreation and Public Access

Recreational opportunities around reservoirs like McKay Reservoir include boating regulated by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and fishing managed under rules from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Access points tie to county parks administered by Umatilla County, Oregon and facilities near I-84 interchanges, with amenities coordinated with state tourism agencies such as Travel Oregon and local chambers of commerce including the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce. Public safety and search-and-rescue coordination occur with the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Police.

Economic and Regional Significance

The project underpins agriculture in the Umatilla Basin, supporting crops marketed through entities like the Port of Morrow and agribusinesses affiliated with the Oregon Wheat Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hydropower contributes to the regional grid administered by the Bonneville Power Administration and supports industrial facilities including Boardman Coal Plant predecessors and contemporary data center developments in Hermiston, Oregon. Economic assessments reference studies from the Economic Development Administration and planning by metropolitan planning organizations such as the Portland Metropolitan Area concentric projects, while workforce impacts involve labor organizations like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Category:Irrigation in the United States Category:Reservoirs in Oregon Category:U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projects