$30 Million Allocated for Lewiston Orchards Irrigation Project

Federal water infrastructure package to fund new water intake and conveyance system in northern Idaho

Mar. 20, 2026 at 12:14am

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The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced that $30 million from a federal water infrastructure package will be directed to the Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District (LOID) in northern Idaho. The funding will support a conveyance and pump storage project aimed at improving water delivery systems tied to the Clearwater River.

Why it matters

This investment is part of a broader $889 million federal initiative to strengthen water infrastructure, support agriculture, and improve water supply reliability across Western states. For the Lewiston Orchards area, the new water intake and conveyance system will ensure a reliable water supply for the region's agricultural needs.

The details

The funding for the Lewiston Orchards project is part of legislation signed in 2025 that provides long-term Bureau of Reclamation funding for water conveyance and storage capacity expansion across the West through 2034. The project in northern Idaho will involve the construction of a new water intake and conveyance system from the Clearwater River.

  • The federal water infrastructure package was signed into law in 2025.
  • The $30 million in funding for the Lewiston Orchards project was announced on March 19, 2026.

The players

Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District (LOID)

A northern Idaho irrigation district that will receive $30 million in federal funding to construct a new water intake and conveyance system from the Clearwater River.

U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher

A U.S. Representative who stated that the funding will support the construction of a new water intake and conveyance system to ensure a strong, reliable water supply for the Lewiston Orchards area.

U.S. Department of the Interior

The federal agency that announced the $30 million in funding for the Lewiston Orchards irrigation project as part of a broader $889 million investment in Western water infrastructure.

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What they’re saying

“This funding will support the construction of a new water intake and conveyance system from the Clearwater River, ensuring a strong, reliable water supply for the Lewiston Orchards area for years to come.”

— U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher

What’s next

The Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District will begin the process of planning and constructing the new water intake and conveyance system from the Clearwater River using the $30 million in federal funding.

The takeaway

This federal investment in the Lewiston Orchards irrigation project is part of a broader effort to strengthen water infrastructure and support agriculture in Western communities facing water supply challenges. The new water intake and conveyance system will help ensure a reliable water source for the region's orchards and other agricultural needs.