More than $200,000 is going to two new projects in central Oregon to conserve water. 

The Bureau of Reclamation announced in a press release in June that it is allocating $219,496 for two pilot projects in central Oregon. 

The water management pilots in the Central Oregon Irrigation District and East Fork Irrigation District will analyze improvements to conserve water for identified needs in their areas, the release stated. 

"Collaboration is key for Reclamation and its partners to meet future water supply challenges," said Chief Engineer David Raff in a press release. "These pilot projects are good examples of collaboration to develop proactive solutions that can work locally, regionally and throughout the nation."

The districts are providing $232,480 in cost-sharing for the projects, the release stated. 

In the Central Oregon Irrigation District, the funds will be used to develop a suite of analytical tools to evaluate and prioritize water conservation efforts in the Deschutes River Basin. In the East Fork Irrigation District, they will develop a sediment management plan to build on sediment control options identified in the Hood River Basin Study. 

The release also said that Water Management Options Pilots build on, update, or expand the analysis and planning in a completed basin study and are not grants. They are funds designed to help staff and technical experts as they work collaboratively with partners on the projects.