Water Conservation Update Dan Carney April 13, 2017

Conservation Program Updates School Turf Replacement Program Enhance program subscription Raise rebate amount from up to $2/sq.ft. to $3/sq.ft. Expand eligibility to include sites using recycled water Increase eligible turf area from 50,000 sq.ft. to 5-acres per site NEW - On-Line Video Demonstration Project Proposal Produce a series of high-quality instructional videos to compliment new Landscape Guidebook Applied for USBR Grant Funding New – Agricultural Water Efficiency Project Proposal Conduct a System Optimization Review based on U.S. Bureau of Reclamation guidelines Invite agricultural customers using recycled water to participate in a scientific study aimed at identifying and supporting on-farm water use efficiency Applied for USBR Grant Funding

Proposed Project: Agricultural Irrigation System Optimization Review Gather information about the current irrigation practices of agricultural recycled water users. Evaluate additional opportunities for water use efficiency. Assess economic and environmental benefits and impacts. Develop a plan of action that identifies key issues, research opportunities, and recommendations. Deliver a final report summarizing findings from the review. EMWD EMWD 237 Agricultural Sites in EMWD Using Recycled Water for Irrigation

Recommended Strategic Approach System Optimization Review (SOR) Gather Information Identify Issues and Priorities Evaluate Potential Improvements Define a Plan of Action Agricultural Water Conservation Plan Incorporate Findings from SOR Select Implementation Measures Define Water Efficiency Measures Produce a Long-Range Plan Implement Plan Develop Programs Identified in Plan Secure Funding Implement Programs

Agricultural Irrigation System Optimization Review Status Actions Tour of Coachella Valley Water District Review of EMWD site and water use data Collaborated with local farmers, and Western Riverside County Agriculture Coalition, USBR, and UC Riverside staff Review of agricultural water conservation and management plans, funding opportunities, irrigation technologies, regulations, and local studies Submitted Field Services Program grant application Lessons Learned Farming practices are confidential Water efficiency yields multiple benefits Improving irrigation practices will require significant financial investment and stakeholder collaboration Interested Project Partners WRCAC UC Riverside USBR Scott Brothers Dairy CR&R Environmental Services

USBR Grant Proposal Deliverables Goal: Identify and recommend practices with the greatest potential to enhance agricultural water efficiency in EMWD. Project Deliverables: Implement a stakeholder survey to assess key areas of interest. Conduct scientific field experiments to evaluate soil and water interactions, measure irrigation efficiency, test new technologies, and evaluate economic and environmental benefits and costs. Acquire and analyze multispectral aerial imagery to record irrigation patterns, soil profiles, and crop vitality on sample plots. Prepare a peer-reviewed final report. Budget/Timeline: $140,000 (USBR Funding 50%, EMWD funding and In-kind 50%) EMWD funding source: Special Conservation Projects budget (landscape efficiency) 6 months (July – December 2017)

Contact Information Dan Carney Principal Water Resources Specialist (951) 928-3777 Ext. 4233 Email: carneyd@emwd.org