Economic Contribution of the CBP

The Columbia Basin Project (CBP) is a Bureau of Reclamation irrigation project located in east central Washington. The project currently irrigates about 700,000 acres annually in Adams, Franklin, Grant, and Walla Walla Counties. The CBP includes over 300 miles of main irrigation canals, 2,000 miles of laterals, and 3,500 miles of drains and wasteways. The primary crops grown include hay, potatoes, corn, wheat, beans, apples and other orchard fruits, grapes, herbs, onions, grass seed, and vegetables. Three irrigation districts manage and distribute the irrigation water from CBP: East Columbia Basin Irrigation District, Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District, and South Columbia Basin Irrigation District. The purpose of this study is to quantify the economic contribution of irrigated lands and recreation supported by the CBP. This includes impacts on employment, income, and tax revenues supported directly and indirectly by the CBP at the local, state, and national levels. In addition to quantifying the direct economic impacts, in terms of jobs, income, and taxes, this study also quantifies the secondary economic impacts that arise from spending related to the direct economic activity and ripple out through the local regional, state, and national levels. The study is linked below.

LINK: Economic Contribution of Irrigated Agriculture Supported by the CBP Study