Hopkins Canal Piping Project

In 2018, Rogue River Valley Irrigation District (RRVID) began constructing its largest irrigation infrastructure improvement project since the 1950's. The Hopkins Canal Pipeline project converted over 3 miles of open canal, 3 old concrete flumes, and an old inverted siphon to a new pressurized pipeline. The goal was to conserve water instream for fish habitat in the highly productive Rogue River tributary of Little Butte Creek, replace aging, leaky and unsafe infrastructure, to improve conveyance efficiency and to provide clean, pressurized water to over 700 acres of farmland classified as farmland of statewide importance. The project completed all its goals in 2019 for water conservation and conveyance efficiency and is now considered the largest pressurized irrigation pipeline in Jackson County. Many partners were involved in making this project a success of which JSWCD was one; JSWCD provided design, planning, and grant writing assistance.

Bradshaw Drop CIS

At the same time as this project, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and JSWCD developed a Conservation Implementation Strategy (CIS), the Bradshaw Drop Agricultural Water Quality Improvement Project, to address water quality in this area via conversions of flood irrigation to sprinkler or drip irrigation systems. On-farm irrigation improvements were made possible by the installation of the Hopkins Canal Pipeline Project and the delivery of clean, pressurized water to irrigators. These changes allow for more water-efficient production for farmers and improved water quality instream.

Results

Learn about the water quality improvements from these projects at the Antelope Creek Water Quality Monitoring page below.