1. Water Conservation Update
Dan Carney
April 13, 2017

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. Contact Information
Dan Carney
Principal Water Resources Specialist
(951) Ext. 4233