05 Jul COLUMBIA BASIN PROJECT COMPLETION PROCESS AT A GLANCE
As the Columbia Basin Project (CBP) is the largest Reclamation project in the nation, full development of the authorized 1,029,000 acres was intended to be phased and take multiple decades. Decades since ground breaking on the CBP, it is often asked what it would take to complete the Project. Below, is a high-level overview. Some steps involve multiple years and millions of dollars per step. Construction would require billions of dollars. For comparison, OGWRP construction, alone (excluding bridges), is roughly $2.7 million (with inflation continuing to increase costs).
STEP 1
Authorization Complete
The Columbia Basin Project was authorized by Congress in 1945 f or 1,029,000 acres.
STEP 2
Key Partner Commit to Financial Support
Given its size and scope of work, the CPB requires financial support from multiple
partners such as the Bureau of Reclamation, the St ate of Washington through the
Department of Ecology, Columbia Basin Project Irrigation Districts, and landowners.
STEP 3
Appraisal Study
The Appraisal Study calculates the size and scope of the project along with possible viable
solutions.
STEP 4
Plan of Study
The “Plan of Study” is a guidance document that lays the foundation for doing a
Feasibility Study. The partner s, Congress and the Washington State Legislature, would
fund the study.
STEP 5
Feasibility Study
A detailed evaluation of all aspects of the project—consistent with numerous legal
requirements. This step includes identification of alternatives and viable options to
pursue.
STEP 6
Construction
Full construction of the Projects is difficult to estimate as costs and timeline can only be
determined once all studies are completed, the bene fit/cost ratio is above one, and a
build options is selected.