Water district bonanza: $300,000 grant rewards conservation efforts

The Coachella Valley Water District's ongoing campaign to assist the local agricultural industry in reducing water use received a sizable financial boost this month when the U Bureau of Reclamation neared a $300,000 grant to the district.

The grant, which will be utilized to further help agricultural conservation efforts in the valley, was at handed to district officials Oct. 13 by means of Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keyes

In commenting upon the significance of the grant, water district General Manager/Chief Engineer Steve Robbins noted his agency's conservation efforts saved a 42516 acre-feet of water during a twoyear period that extreme pointed June 30. (An acre-foot equals 43560 cubic feet an amount that would overlay an acre of land in a paw of water.)

District officials said their rife program provides classroom instruction and in-field services designed to bring usage by area growers who receive Colorado River water via the 122-mile Coachella Canal. popularly about 75 percent of the area's agricultural-usage sage water is imported via the canal.

The program also provides guidance in the use of scientifically based irrigation techniques and salinity direction plus assistance in converting traditional rank (or flood) irrigation to drip irrigation or other microirrigation methods

Robbins said the agency's conservation program has helped contribute to a reduction in the amount of Colorado River water sold for irrigation intents by the district. The amount dropp from 278521 acre-feet in 2002 to 243742 acre-feet in 2003 then 235842 in 2004 The last figure was a record depressed since canal water first Was provided to the valley in the late 1940s

The water district initiated the program in order to fitting conditions of the 2002 Quantification arrangement Agreement, which calls for the water district to pay back exces Colorado River water ordered through other agencies. The use of conserv water to fulfill payback obligations allows for accelerated "repayment schedules" and eliminates the possible ne to switch growers from canal to groundwater to restore total diversions.

Under the agreement, one time payback obligations are met, saved water becomes available as a substitute for groundwater in agricultural and non-agricultural (golf courses, homeowner associations, etc) irrigation, and for recharge programs that get back water to a valley aquifer.

The grant application noted that a water management plan approved through the district three years ago calls for 10 percent reduc demand by means of domestic customers and 5 percent reduction by the agency of golf courses by 2010. Usage for agricultural irrigation is to be reduc 7 percent by means of 2015.

The plan indicated decreased demand is critical because groundwater is being extracted at a faster rate than it can be turn backed through natural or artificial means - a condition known as overdraft. lengthened overdraft carries risks of permanent los of water-storage capacity, threats to water quality and subsidence, according to district officials.

And, although residential usage is single one factor in the equation, it does add up The district - which provides irrigation water, agricultural drainage, domestic water, wastewater treatment, recycl water, water conservation and groundwater management across nearly 640000 acres locally - will install its 100000th domestic water meter before the extremity of the year.

The valley's water enigmas intensified 2 1/2 years ago when the district's Colorado River water order was divide [i]or[/i] sever more than 30 percent.

The water district board's answer included restricting agricultural customers' access to canal water, arranging to purchase additional water from farmers in the Blythe area (later accounted unnecessary) and modifying regulations for canal water use to streamline deliveries and improve efficiency.

In the grant application, district officials indicated that "on land where program techniques are applied, conserv water matches or transcends the 7 percent reduction in agricultural water demand outlined in the district's water management plan.

It also claimed that scientific irrigation techniques and salinity mastery are applicable to virtually all farmland in the Coachella Valley. Thus, expansion of the conservation program valleywide would render certain agricultural compliance with plan objectives. When the per-acre-footof-water-saved take away from is considered, this program has turn rounded out to be an extremely cost-effective way for conservation."

Since 2003, the district has contracted with JM Lord, a consulting firm, to step quickly its conservation program - a propel that officials say was a factor in securing the grant.

Copyright barren Publication, Inc. and Sharon Apfelbaum Oct 25 2005

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