Reclamation Selects Nearly $2M In Agricultural Water Conservation And Efficiency Grants

The Bureau of Reclamation announced recently the selection of approximately $2M in Agricultural Water Conservation and Efficiency grants for Fiscal Year 2018. Combined with local cost-share contributions, approximately $4M in water management improvement projects will be implemented during the next 24 months.

The Agricultural Water Conservation and Efficiency program is a joint program with the Natural Resources Conservation Service promoting district level water conservation improvements that facilitate on-farm water use efficiency and conservation projects. With NRCS support, Reclamation selected three projects for funding. The selected projects will increase district-level efficiencies and facilitate farm water conservation and water use efficiency.

The three selected applicants are Eastern Municipal Water District, Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District and Solano Irrigation District. The following provides details on the selected projects:

Eastern Municipal Water District
Federal Share - $210,000
Total Project Cost - $455,112
The Agricultural Water Data Project consists of an online data management tool and technical assistance to farmers to provide real-time water flow data, water ordering flexibility, weather-based crop water demand and efficient irrigation recommendations. The project will enable farmers to track water deliveries and optimize adequate pressure and flow to each turnout. This project will better manage 9,000 acre-feet of Bay-Delta water over the 20-year life of the project. This project will further enable up to 74 potential farmers to modify their irrigation systems through the replacement of nozzles, hoses and drip lines with water-efficient equipment.

Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District
Federal Share - $670,578
Total Project Cost - $1,341,157
The Diltz Intertie Lateral Piping and Water Management Improvements Project will reduce groundwater pumping by district farmers by replacing five laterals of an estimated 1.38 miles off the Diltz mainline to enable pressurized flow in both directions. Additionally, the project will implement on-farm water management improvements, including installing nine evapotranspiration weather stations, fund distribution uniformity evaluations and collaborate with neighboring districts on energy and well operations. The project will further incentivize irrigation conservation by installing soil moisture probes and other on-farm water conserving implementation methods. This project will conserve 1,718 acre-feet of water over the 50-year life of the project. This project will further enable farmers on approximately 6,500 acres of district land to convert irrigation equipment to water-efficient equipment with the potential to further save an additional 2,500 acre-feet of water.

Solano Irrigation District
Federal Share - $1,000,000
Total Project Cost - $2,108,000
The Weyand Canal Automation and Remote Control Project will install automated control structures and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition control system along a 2.2 mile section of Weyland Canal. This project will further implement a Total Channel Control program to allow farmers more flexibility for ordering water and reduce operational spills. This project will conserve 960 acre-feet and better manage 31,000 acre-feet of Bay-Delta water over the 25-year life of the project. Through automation of the Weyand Canal, the project will decrease spills from the system. The project will also improve delivery flexibility, helping to facilitate on-farm efficiency improvements to a potential 410 acres of farms within the canal service area.

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Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier in the United States, and the nation's second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. For more information, visit https://www.usbr.gov.