1. Middle Flint Basin Irrigation Water Use Dr. Jim Hook National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory June 5, 2001 SW Georgia Water Resources Task Force WATER SUMMIT VI

8. No Irrigation No Agency Regulation Agency Permitting Regulated/ Restricted Pre-Irrigation Rapid Growth Steady Growth Declining Irrigation

9. Why do farmers irrigate? Reduces risks associated with dry weather (still leaves risks associated with commodity prices) Stabilizes income Opportunities for good profits Opportunity to grow other crops Vegetable, peanut, early grain contracts Operational loan (availability, amount) Land rentals

10. Why do farmers irrigate? Land values (collateral, resale, taxes) Eliminates wasted inputs Reduces risks of quality loss

11. Irrigation Decisions create uncertainty Decision to install/expand irrigation –Can I obtain capital, what risks Annual Decision on which Lands to irrigate –Do I need to rotate Annual Decision on which Crops to irrigate –What will be profitable at market time, how cost. Daily Decisions – to irrigate or not –When, how much – will it pay for itself Tough economic business decisions –Too many wrong decisions mean economic failure

12. Decisions about irrigation A good businessman makes these decisions as part of a well thought out development/ investment plan over a period of years. Competition requires farmers to used the most efficient use of their combined resources – land, water, equipment, labor, experience.

17. DNR-EPD Permits all (almost) withdrawals exceeding 100,000 gpd Since 1988 farmers are required to get a permit from EPD if their pump is capable of pumping > 70 gpm (larger than 4”well). Ground water withdrawals Surface withdrawals from streams, canals, ditches, springs, sinkholes, etc. Surface withdrawals from farm ponds (?) No reporting requirements No renewal necessary No conservation plan required

18. Restrictions on Permitted Withdrawals 1998-2001 Freeze on new groundwater withdrawals from Dougherty Plain area of Flint Basin Freeze on surface water withdrawals from streams everywhere in the Flint Basin Site visits required by EPD before future permitting. New rules for drillers. Studies to get accurate acres and irrigation amount. Voluntary - UGA Flint River Drought Protection Act – evoked March 1, 2001. A 33,000 acreage reduction for 2001.

20. EPD vs Ext. Survey of Irrigation Survey during fall 2000 showed the 13 counties had 357,200 acres irrigated that year EPD has issued permits for a total of 515,100 acres from those counties. Their freeze on new permits is based on their numbers – to prevent the estimated 100,000 additional requested acres. Their buyout this year with FRDPA was to eliminate 33,000 surface irrigated acres.