Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study Next Steps: Agriculture Conservation, Productivity, and Transfers Workgroup

Urban Water Institute ConferenceAugust 14, 2014San Diego, CA

Outline

• Colorado River Basin Study• Agriculture demands and options in the Basin study • Basin Study Next Steps• Agriculture workgroup

•Study Objective– Assess future water supply and

demand imbalances over next 50 years– Develop and evaluate opportunities for

resolving imbalances

• Study conducted by Reclamation and the Basin States in collaboration with stakeholders throughout the Basin

• Potential for significant future imbalances exists

• Portfolios of options can mitigate risks but not eliminate entirely

Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study

Projected Colorado River Demands

Agricultural Options

• 9 submitted options• Classified into 6 categories

– Advanced irrigation scheduling– Deficit irrigation– On-farm irrigation system improvements– Controlled environment agriculture– Conveyance system efficiency improvements– Fallowing of irrigated lands

• Computed potential Colorado

River savings of 1 MaF/yr

Moving ForwardNext Steps after the Study

Next Steps Workgroups

“…all that rely on the Colorado are taking initial steps — working together — to identify positive solutions that can be implemented to meet the challenges ahead.”

• Brings wider stakeholder group with expertise to address topics identified in the Basin Study

• More detailed analysis and discussion than was considered in the Basin Study

Workgroup Membership

• Workgroup Chairs– Ken Nowak, Bureau of Reclamation– Reagan Waskom, Colorado State University– Tina Shields, Imperial Irrigation District

• Participating Entities– California Department of Water Resources – Central Arizona Project – Coachella Valley Water District– Colorado River Board of California – Colorado River Commission of Nevada – Colorado River Indian Tribes – Colorado River Water Conservation District– Colorado Water Users– Environmental Defense Fund – Family Farm Alliance– Los Angeles Department of Water & Power– Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation & Drainage District– Metropolitan Water District of Southern California – Natural Resources Conservation Service

– New Mexico Office of the State Engineer– Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District– Palo Verde Irrigation District – San Diego County Water Authority – San Juan Water Commission– Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District– Southern Nevada Water Authority – The Nature Conservancy – Trout Unlimited– Upper Colorado River Commission – Utah Division of Water Resources– Welton-Mohawk Irrigation & Drainage District– Wyoming State Engineer's Office

Agricultural Conservation, Productivity, and Transfers Workgroup

• Workgroup Objective– “This workgroup will collect information and prepare a report

that quantifies agricultural conservation and transfers of Colorado River water (both in and outside of the Basin) that have occurred to date, documents programs that have been successful to date, lists any existing future plans for these types of activities, and estimates what potential savings could come from these existing plans. From this baseline information, this workgroup will also propose Phase 2 activities…”

- Moving Forward Fact Sheet: Moving Forward to Address the Challenges Identified in the Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study

Workgroup Scope Summary

• Document agriculture conservation, efficiency, and transfers that have occurred to date

• Identify existing plans and agreements or potential opportunities for future conservation programs

• Document issues or challenged related to conservation and transfers

• Recommend phase 2 activities

Data Collection

• Annual Water Use– Acreage– Use and Sources– Crop Types/Acreage– Productivity

• Supplemental Information– Transmission– Storage– Application by Crop Type– Soils and Local Conditions

• Conservation Programs• Transfers• Program Highlights

Workgroup Sub-Teams

• Need– Explore potential for agricultural-related activities to play a

role in addressing CRB water supply and demand imbalances

• Focus areas– Consumptive Use Reductions– On-Farm Efficiencies – Conveyance System Improvements– Transfers

• Objective– Discuss and document issues related to each sub-team– Explore avenues to overcome these challenges

Potential Future Actions

• Sub-team challenges and opportunities will inform potential future actions

• Recommendations for phase 2 to be submitted to Coordination Team

• Future actions intended to be informative beyond Basin Study Next Steps

Case Studies

• Objective – Highlight Information– Past Successes– Possible Future Projects – Demonstration Analyses

Process Complexities• Basin size

– ~250,000 square miles– Climate

• Extent of agriculture– 4-5 million acres

• Range of agriculture– Irrigated pasture– Fruit and nut trees

• Range of practices• Misconceptions

Concluding Remarks

• In light of an uncertain future, efficient water use is in everyone’s interest

• Efficiency builds resiliency and opportunity– Water availability– Increased productivity– Ecological benefits

Questions?