The National Elk Refuge and the Jackson National Fish Hatchery will receive nearly $3.5 million in stimulus funds for infrastructure projects. 

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar recently announced $280 million for fish hatcheries and wildlife refuges around the country. The National Elk Refuge is slated for more than $3.4 million.

The bulk of the money, about $3.2 million, will go toward an irrigation project on the refuge.

The refuge has approval for a $3.7 million system covering 1,600 acres using a combination of sprinkler and flood irrigation. The irrigation plan is included in the Final Bison and Elk Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement released in 2007. The goal is to increase natural forage and reduce the need for supplemental feeding during the winter.

In the past, the refuge has irrigated about 930 acres.

“We would look at putting in an underground pipeline to transfer water from Flat Creek,” National Elk Refuge spokeswoman Lori Iverson said. “That would supply water for most of our management units.”

Iverson said the new irrigation system is expected to use less water than the current system, which relies heavily on flood irrigation.

Roughly two-thirds of the new system would use sprinkler irrigation.

“We’re trying to get away from more flood irrigation because our soils are so porous,” Iverson said. “Eighty-five to 95 percent of the water is lost before it makes it to its final destination.”

The National Elk Refuge is seeking comments on a draft plan for an expanded irrigation system that would cover more than 5,000 acres, but that project is not yet approved.

Of the remaining money, about $10,000 will go toward making the refuge more energy efficient. Roughly $200,000 will pay for upgrading the exhibits at the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center.

The Jackson National Fish Hatchery received $55,000 to refurbish four residential driveways on the property. Kerry Grande, fish hatchery manager, said the driveways were constructed in 1957.