B E N T O N CONSERVATION DISTRICT. Empowering irrigators to manage limited groundwater resources,...
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Transcript of B E N T O N CONSERVATION DISTRICT. Empowering irrigators to manage limited groundwater resources,...
B E N T O N
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Empowering irrigators to manage limited groundwater resources,The Little Rock Creek project.
Goals of the project (proposal):• Provide the tools and management system
that will support agriculture (irrigation) and natural resources (trout).
• Transfer the tools to others facing emerging environmental issues related to groundwater use.
Little Rock Watershed
Benton Soil and Water Conservation District
Little Rock Lake
Excessive nutrients (phosphorus)
Little Rock Watershed Impairments
Little Rock Creek
Lack of coldwater assemblage
Benton Soil and Water Conservation District
DNR Permitted Pumping – Little Rock Creek Watershed
1988 - 2007
Trend in Precipitation1890 - 2005
Trend in Groundwater Levels for Little Rock Creek Watershed
Source: DNR Observation Well Program
October-
69
October-
74
October-
79
October-
84
October-
89
October-
94
October-
99
October-
04
October-
09
October-
14
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0Observation Well 49000
Depth to Water (feet below measuring point)
Depth to Water Trend
Dept
h to
wat
er
USGS fact sheet FS2013-3001
USGS fact sheet FS2013-3001
USGS fact sheet FS2013-3001
USGS fact sheet FS2013-3001
• CUSTOM FIELD IRRIGATION
SCHEDULING VIA WEB
• CALIBRATING IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT
• OUTREACH ON IRRIGATION BMPS
IMPROVE IRRIGATION EFFICIENCIES2
• INCREASE SOIL ORGANIC MATTER
• IMPROVE SOIL WATER HOLDING
CAPACITY
• REDUCE RUNOFF AND IRRIGATION DEMANDS
REDUCE IRRIGATION NEEDS1
CONSERVATION DECISION MAKING TOOL• CONSIDERS
STREAM FLOW, GROUNDWATER, WATER QUALITY
• REAL-TIME CONDITION
APPROPRIATE IRRIGATION METHODS
• IRRIGATOR LED MANAGEMENT
3
1. Reduce Irrigation Needs
Soil quality practices for irrigated sandy soil
• Cover the soil with last years crop (instead of plowing it under), reduce evaporation, increase organic matter and water holding capacity.
• Cover crops, increase organic matter, improve infiltration (capture more water from mother nature).
2. Improve Irrigation Efficiencies
Irrigation System Uniformity Test
Irrigation Scheduling is a predictive tool that utilizes factors such as evaporation, plant transpiration and rooting depth to predict when additional moisture will be needed.
2. Improve Irrigation Efficiencies
Irrigation Scheduling Assistant
Rainfall and irrigationRain forecast
Soil water holding capacity at various depthsEvapotranspiration
Capacity of the irrigation systemCrop type
Crop growth stageCurrent soil moisture
2. Improve Irrigation Efficiencies
Relative impact of the well (Well
Location)
Stream Flow, Water Quality
Levels, Groundwater
Level
Conservation Irrigation Decision
Support System
Balance of water left from the DNR issued
permit
3. Conservation Decision Making Tool
Standard conservation
measures
Additional conservation
measures
Highest level conservation
measures
Conservation Irrigation Decision Support System
3. Conservation Decision Making Tool
Stakeholder Committee
Stakeholder Committee
• CIDSS criteria• Conservation irrigation measures• Scheduling Assistant• Outreach efforts• New technology moving forward
Technology Transfer
• Technology transfer– CIDSS/Scheduling assistant
Project partner Primary Role
Irrigation Association of MN, Farmer Associations, Individual Irrigators
Stakeholder committee, outreach, install practices
Morrison SWCD Assist irrigators, outreach
NRCS Soil quality initiative, installing practices
MN Department of Agriculture Outreach, weather stations
MN Board of Water and Soil Resources Funding for staff, technology transfer
MN Department of Natural Resources Stream and ground water data, fisheries surveys, technical advisor
MN Pollution Control Agency Technical advisor, outreach
University of Minnesota Technical advisor, outreach
Consultant Develop scheduling software and decision support system, technology transfer, outreach
LCCMR Funding, outreach
Other SWCDs and state agencies Promote the activities beyond the initial development