ALABAMA IRRIGATION INITIATIVE Sustainable Water Harvesting for Supplemental Irrigation and the Potential Economic Benefits Cameron Handyside Earth Systems Science Center University of Alabama in Huntsville March 16 th, 2016

At the turn of the 20th century most of the U.S food and fiber production was found in the East and Midwest based on rain-fed agriculture Precipitation>Evaporation 100W Rain-fed Agriculture Cotton Vegetables The Past

Western Agriculture The Central Valley is an arid region with little natural precipitation or water resources. Yet it is now one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. Before After

Western Agriculture How did we turn dessert into the most productive agricultural region in the world? Huge western water projects delivered water to the edge of farmer’s fields

Western Agriculture Finite water resources threaten many aspects of Western life –Urban expansion –Environmental impact –Economic loss –Food Security Tulare Lake King of California

Western Agriculture

Alabama Agriculture Western, irrigated farms have displaced eastern, rain-fed farms. Eastern farmers have switched to pasture land, timber or sold out completely

Alabama Agriculture Transportation opened markets and drove down prices Alabama farmers were now competing on a national level

Irrigated Rainfed Midwest Yields Yield Benefit of Irrigation

Alabama Agriculture Net Profits for rain-fed corn in Alabama at National prices

Profit while paying for irrigation infrastructure

Sustainable Approach Western vs. Eastern Irrigation Traditional Western Irrigated Agriculture –requires 4-8 linear feet to water crops. –has depleted some streams and rivers and significantly harmed estuaries fed by rivers in the West. Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture in Alabama: –crops would require only a few linear inches to be competitive. –has more than adequate annual rainfall. –It is not a matter of water quantity, but of water management.

The question is - how much water is there for irrigation in Alabama?

Water Run-off Irrigated Acreage Water in Alabama

Apalachicola – Blountstown 16 million acre-ft/yr Alabama River -Monroeville 24 million acre-ft/yr Colorado River – Glen Canyon 10 million acre-ft/yr Tennessee –Huntsville 30 million acre-ft/yr Apalachicola Alabama Tombigbee Tennessee Tombigbee River - Coffeeville 19 million acre-ft/yr Water in Alabama

2012 Yields with Irrigation

Looking Forward to a Near-Real Time Coupled Crop/Hydrology Model at the smallest watersheds (HUC12)

The AWEP & Water Policy In 2009 the USDA Farm Bill included funding for the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program. The program is designed to improve efficient irrigation. This included on-farm water storage AWEP Awards: –AL $ 1,400,000 –AR $ 4,450,000 –FL $ 3,790,000 –GA $ 10,000,000 –MS $ 16,000,000 –NC $ 475,000 –TX $40,708,000 –CA $ 40,141,000

Conclusion Alabama’s agricultural/economic losses are due in part to water management issues. Irrigation in Alabama can improve farmers productivity, the local economy and can be done sustainably. Alabama needs a STATE WATER POLICY to provide guidance and oversight for the use of this important natural resource

Thank You “The Eastern United States has the unique opportunity to develop a more sustainable paradigm for irrigated agriculture, one that incorporates the lessons learned from the experience of the Western U.S.” - Juliet Christian-Smith, Pacific Institute Questions?