No chance of water shortage great news for users
he projection indicates there is no chance of shortage (of Colorado River water) in 2018,” said Rose Davis spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. “Zero.” What great news for all the water users in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River. However, rather than have a party, now is the time to look at our irrigation delivery systems to develop plans to repair and replace ditches, structures for water delivery and management of irrigation water. Following are some available programs:
The Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region has a Water Conservation Field Services Program to encourage and implement water conservation measures on Federal Reclamation projects. Included in the program are provisions for technical and financial assistance to federal and non-federal entities and the administration of water management plans. The program, called a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to invite water districts, irrigation districts, Tribal groups or other organizations with water or power delivery authority located in the Lower Colorado Region that have an association with a reclamation project or project water to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with reclamation on activities/projects that help water conservation. Examples of eligible design activities include conversion of an open ditch to a pipeline; lining of earthen canals; and design of weirs, flumes, ramps and other irrigation flow measurement devices in ditches. For more information on these programs, contact Nohemi Olbert at USBR, nolbert@ usbr.gov.
For farmers and other water users, there are programs through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) which will provide cost sharing on water conservation projects. Agricultural producers and owners of non-industrial private forestland and Tribes are eligible to apply for EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program). Eligible land includes cropland, range land, pastureland, and other farm and ranch lands. Applicants must develop an NRCS EQIP plan and plan of operations; control or own eligible land; comply with Adjusted Gross Income limitation (AGI) provisions and be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conversion requirements. Arizona conservation priorities applicable in Yuma include inefficient use of irrigation water; inefficient moisture management; organic matter depletion; emissions of dust and air quality and concentrations of salts and other chemicals. The local Natural Resources Conservation Service can help Yuma County agricultural producers to develop plans for projects. Payment limitations are set at $450,000 per eligible entity enrolled in the program.
All of the irrigation water conservation practices will help growers deal with increasing pressure on irrigation water supplies. There are programs to help update the infrastructure that deserve a look. Better to have and not need than to need and not have.
Traffic in the county is picking up and with all the construction, drivers may encounter agricultural trucks and equipment on roads not usually traveled by these vehicles. It is important to give farm equipment plenty of room, remember they are usually moving at a slower rate of speed and are often oversized. Be careful and share the road!
Bobbi Stevenson-McDermott is a soil and water conservationist. She can be reached at rjsm09@msn.com.