1. An Alternative Conservation Program for Irrigated Agriculture Arizona Department of Water Resources

2.  Early ADWR studies - 1985-1993 - Water duties based on irrigation history - Uniform water duty by ASFCs - Safe-yield water duty - District-wide water duty - Cropped-acres water allotment - Best Management Practices (BMPs) Historical Perspective  Ag Study Recommendations - 1996 - District-wide groundwater reduction programs - Cropped-acres program

3. Historical Perspective  Pinal AMA Ag Workgroup - 1997 - Historic Cropping Program - Cropped-acres Program  Passage of H.B. 2635 - 1998 - Established first alternative conservation program - Set standards for additional alternative programs  Water Management Taskforce - 2000 - Best Management Practices (BMPs)  Adhoc BMP Advisory Group - 2001 - Identified BMP practices - Developed initial program concepts

4. Historical Perspective  ADWR/Ag Sector Agreement - 2001  Passage of H.B. 2022 - 2002 - New irrigation efficiency for water duties - Establish a BMP Program as an alternative - Create a BMP Program Advisory Committee - Support acquisition of funding for BMP Program - Ease restrictions on flex credit transfers - Established a formula for water allotments - Broadened ability to transfer flex credits - Allowed for creation of a BMP Program in the TMP  Executive Order 2002-9 - Established a BMP Program Advisory Committee

5. Best Management Practices Program  Program definition  Purpose  Program features  Program eligibility  Application process  Program practices  Program implementation  Reporting requirements  Program evaluation  Program duration

6. Program Definition  The BMP Program is a practical, affordable approach to conserving water without sacrificing a farm’s productivity or long-term sustainability

7. Program Purpose  To provide an alternative conservation program that is designed to be more effective than the Base Agricultural Conservation Program

8. Program Features  Performance-based program  A balance of physical and management practices designed to increase water use efficiency  Menu driven BMPs facilitate a balance between physical and management improvements  Qualifying point system  No water allotments  No flex account provisions

9. Program Eligibility  Applicant must score a minimum point value  May enroll a single farm unit (multiple IGFRs) under a single BMP agreement  Owners or lessees may enroll  May petition ADWR to enter the BMP program if equivalency can be demonstrated

10. Application Process  Must submit a signed BMP Application form including the necessary worksheets  Submit a farm plan map documenting physical farm management improvements  If leased land, a signed affidavit from landowner authorizing enrollment into BMP Program

11. Application Process  BMP Worksheet - Organized into 4 categories - Each category allows a maximum score of 3 points - The applicant must score a minimum of 2 points in Category 2 to be accepted into the program - A total point value of at least 10 must be scored on the Worksheet to enter the BMP Program  Categories of BMP Worksheet - Category 1: Water Conveyance Improvements - Category 2: Farm Irrigation Systems - Category 3: Irrigation Water Management - Category 4: Agronomic Management

12. Program Practices  Water Conveyance System Improvements - Concrete-lined ditches, pipelines, gated-pipe, drain-back systems Category 1

13. Program Practices  Farm Irrigation Systems - Slope systems without uniform grades with tail-water reuse - Uniform slope systems without tail-water reuse - Uniform slope systems with tail-water reuse - Uniform slope within an irrigation district that captures and redistributes return flows - Modified slope systems - High pressure sprinkler systems - Near level systems - Level systems - Low pressure sprinkler systems - Trickle or drip irrigation systems Category 2

14. Program Practices  Irrigation Water Management (IWM) - Laser touch-up - Alternate row irrigation - Furrow checks - Angled rows - Surge irrigation - Temporary sprinklers - Participation in IWM programs - Using Irrigation Scheduling Services - Participation with I.D. to increase flexibility of water deliveries - Measure flow rates to determine amount of water applied - Soil moisture monitoring - Computer based model using meteorological data (AZMET) Category 3

15. Program Practices  Agronomic Management - Crop rotation - Crop residue management - Soil and/or water quality testing - Pre-irrigation surface conditioning Category 4 - Transplants - Plastic mulch or floatable row covers - Shaping furrows or beds - Planting in bottom of furrow

16. Program Implementation  Work with the BMP Advisory Committee to finalize BMP Program elements  Incorporate the BMP Program in the TMP modification  BMP Program will be available to all right holders upon modification of the TMP Agricultural Chapter

17. Reporting Requirements  Annual Reports will need to be filed similar to the Base Program  May incorporate several IGFRs under a single BMP Program annual report  Requirement to annually document the implementation of specific best management practices on the enrolled farm or farm unit  An irrigation district may file on behalf of the BMP Program participant if the district delivers all water supplies to the farm or farm unit

18. Program Evaluation The Department, working with the BMP Advisory Committee will:  Determine criteria and data needs for evaluating the BMP Program and practices, including impact on AMA goal and administrative burden  Evaluate existing program practices for effectiveness and new practices for Program inclusion  Over time, determine whether the BMP Program will achieve conservation savings equivalent to that of the Base Program

19. Program Duration  The Department will implement an interim BMP Program till the end of the Third Management Period  If proven to be equivalent to the Base Program the Department may implement the BMP Program in subsequent management periods

20. -Discussion-