NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt Visits OGWRP for an Impromptu Field Visit

The Columbia Basin Conservation District and the East Columbia Basin Conservation District were honored to welcome USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Aubrey Bettencourt for an impromptu site visit in mid-January to view construction progress on the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program’s (OGWRP) EL 84.7 public system.

EL 84.7 is one of two OGWRP public systems currently funded by NRCS in partnership with the State of Washington. Since 2022, NRCS has invested nearly $60 million to advance this critical on-farm and public infrastructure project, building on the State of Washington’s $210 million investment to date.

OGWRP site visit with NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt in January 2026. Left to right: Kristina Ribellia, CBCD; Jon Erickson, ECBID; Morgan Marburger, NRCS; Chief Aubrey Bettencourt, NRCS; Michael Crowder, Ducks Unlimited

Construction on the EL 84.7 pump station. Left to right: Morgan Marburger, NRCS; Chief Aubrey Bettencourt, NRCS; Jon Erickson, ECBID; Craig Simpson, ECBID.

Completion of the EL 84.7 system is expected prior to the 2027 irrigation season with service to 7,138 acres.

We are grateful for the continued partnerships and collaboration that make this work possible. In particular, we extend our thanks to Michael Crowder for helping facilitate Chief Bettencourt’s visit to see firsthand the progress underway on the OGWRP.

We look forward to welcoming Chief Bettencourt back to the OGWRP and are hopeful she will be able to join us again this spring for a ribbon-cutting celebration as construction continues.