Baker County Commissioners have approved an agreement with the city of Richland to connect county-owned Hewitt and Holcomb parks to the city’s water system.

Commissioners approved a letter of agreement with Richland on Wednesday, April 3.

The project is contingent, however, on the county securing grants to pay for the pipeline that would run from Richland about 3 miles east to the two parks on the shore of Brownlee Reservoir.

The estimated cost is $1,625,000, according to Anderson Perry & Associates of La Grande.

That figure includes a contingency of 40% — $411,000.

Richland gets its water from a groundwater gallery beside Eagle Creek, which flows just west of the city of about 175 residents, 41 miles east of Baker City.

Connecting the two parks to Richland’s water system has been a priority for the county for several years.

Doni Bruland, the county’s parks director, said the wells that supply water to the parks now have high concentrations of iron, which causes a metallic odor and taste and can stain clothes and cooking containers.

The county could continue to use well water for irrigation and to supply the fish-cleaning station at Hewitt Park, according to a report from David Wildman, an engineer from Anderson Perry & Associates.

Hewitt and Holcomb parks have 52 RV sites, seven showers and three restrooms.

According to Wildman’s report, the increased water use from connecting the two parks would not “significantly impact the City’s water system pressures.”

The plan calls for installing a water pipeline east along Sullivan Lane to the road that leads to the two parks.