NRCS Assistant Chief Hans Hunt Tours the OGWRP

Moses Lake, WA | April 10, 2026

Assistant Chief Hans Hunt of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) visited the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP) on April 2, 2026, joined by legislators, agency partners, and local landowners. The tour highlighted the scale and progress of the irrigation infrastructure investments currently underway.

Assistant Chief Hunt was welcomed by state legislators, including Senator Mark Schoesler, Senator Judy Warnick, Representative Tom Dent, Representative Mary Dye, and Representative Alex Ybarra, as well as WSDA Director Derek Sandison, Office of Columbia River Director Larry Mattson, NRCS State Conservationist Roylene Comes-At-Night, other project partners, and landowners, all of whom emphasized the importance of the OGWRP and the significant role NRCS investments are playing in advancing the project.

During the visit, Assistant Chief Hunt toured the completed EL 47.5 pump station, observed active construction led by the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District on the EL 80.6 and EL 84.7 systems, and concluded with a site visit to an on-farm system on the EL 86.4.

Once fully constructed, the three lower OGWRP systems (EL 80.6, 84.7, and 86.4) will represent more than $50 million in NRCS investments supporting the public irrigation delivery systems and on-farm infrastructure improvements designed to preserve high-value agricultural lands and conserve groundwater resources.

We are grateful for Assistant Chief Hunt’s generous time and genuine interest in the OGWRP and appreciate the opportunity to showcase the progress being made through NRCS' important investments.

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