East Columbia Basin Irrigation District

East Columbia Basin Irrigation District (ECBID) is a local government entity located in Othello, Washington, registered in SAM.gov since May 2000, that specializes in water resource management and infrastructure development for agricultural irrigation systems. Serving the Columbia Basin Project region, the district focuses on water conservation, infrastructure improvements, and sustainable water supply strategies for farmers in central Washington. As a U.S. local government entity, ECBID plays a critical role in managing water resources in an area experiencing significant groundwater depletion and agricultural challenges.

Through federal grant awards, primarily from the Bureau of Reclamation and the National Resources Conservation Service, ECBID has undertaken several significant water conservation and infrastructure projects. These grants have supported critical initiatives such as converting 24,483 feet of earthen irrigation canals to PVC pipelines to reduce water loss, upgrading turnout gates with automated systems to improve water distribution efficiency, and developing comprehensive water conservation plans for the Odessa Subarea. The district has received WaterSMART grants focused on water conservation and sustainability, with projects aimed at reducing groundwater pumping, enhancing Columbia River flows, and supporting agricultural productivity. Notable grant awards include a $1,284,657 infrastructure improvement project in 2023, a $120,600 water conservation planning grant in 2024, and a watershed planning cooperative agreement from the National Resources Conservation Service in 2022, demonstrating ECBID's commitment to innovative water resource management and agricultural sustainability.