Irrigon
Morrow County, 97844
The 'Undiscovered Gem' on the Columbia River
Irrigon was incorporated in 1957. In 1971 the US Amy Corps of Engineers built the John Day dam and flooded the Columbia up to the McNary Dam. The flow of irrigation water from the Columbia did great things for this agricultural community as the desert flourished under the fall of rain from the huge center pivot systems. Check out the aerial view to see how these huge irrigation systems dominate the landscape. They produce the delicious Hermiston water melon here and have a watermelon festival the last Saturday of July each year. This stretch of Lake Umatilla is known for its walleye fishing but also produces great catches of small mouth bass and sturgeon.