Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is “Pivotal” to Conserving Water in the Colville River Watershed

Stevens County


EQIP cost sharing has enabled four local farms to upgrade their irrigation systems to efficient center pivots. Without EQIP funds these new systems would not be economically feasible.


Four local farms: Andrew Kroiss, Echo Valley Farms, Bart Bateman and Lorren Hagen along with the USDA-NRCS and the Northeast Washington Local Work Group.


Old and inefficient irrigation system can waste limited water supplies in the Colville River watershed. Local farming economics make it unfeasible to convert to efficient center pivot systems.


EQIP funds, prioritized by the Northeast Local Work Group, provide the needed economic incentive to upgrade to more efficient center pivot systems, along with Irrigation Water Management, Nutrient Management, and Pest Management plans to maximize environmental and economic benefits.

Because the Northeast Local Work Group saw this as a high priority resource concern, EQIP funding has been made available to farmers that wish to solve this need.


Center pivot systems do a better job of evenly distributing irrigation water while avoiding over irrigation which can leach nutrients and pesticides into the ground water. These new systems, properly operated in conjunction with nutrient, pest, and irrigated water management plans, can provide the greatest environmental benefit to irrigated cropland. In addition, these systems are more economical to operate and ensure a long term benefit by keeping these good farmers in business!


David Kreft, Colville Field Office, (509) 685-0937

NRCS, Fall 2007

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