Decision support systems for managing efficient irrigation water deliveries - a case study of irrigated agriculture in the Middle Rio Grande
Date
2011
Authors
Manana, Nkosinathi David, author
Oad, Ramchand Naraindas, advisor
Grigg, Neil S., committee member
Myrick, Christopher A., committee member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Irrigation has been practiced for centuries in the Middle Rio Grande (MRG) Valley of New Mexico. Many of the practices governing irrigation in earlier times, both by Native Americans and by Spanish settlers, are continued into the present day. In recent years, considerable pressure has fallen on the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) to decrease its water diversions from the Rio Grande and to allow more water to remain in the river for ecological uses. This pressure has stemmed from increasing and competing water demands and interest in the preservation of natural habitat associated with the river, especially the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus). The MRGCD has opted to modernize its physical infrastructure and improve water delivery practices to more efficiently utilize diversions from the Rio Grande, and meet farm demands with reduced river diversions. To reach this goal while still providing farmers with adequate supplies, the MRGCD has employed scheduled water delivery. Scheduled water delivery introduces significant management challenges that can be addressed using Decision Support iii Systems (DSS). The MRGCD DSS was successfully implemented in the Peralta Main service area during the year 2009. This thesis presents a hypothetical evaluation of the implementation of the Decision Support System (DSS) as a guiding tool for farmers to improve irrigation water scheduling management in the Albuquerque Division of the MRGCD. Specifically, this research evaluates the question of whether the use of the DSS for scheduling irrigation water deliveries would result in reduced river water diversion, efficiently improve irrigation water scheduling management, and identify required infrastructure improvements while still meeting all crop water requirements. The study verified the hypothesis that a DSS can proficiently and justifiably be utilized to manage scheduled water delivery operations in the Albuquerque Division of the MRGCD. A DSS combined with infrastructure improvement and SCADA inclusion can significantly reduce river diversion while still serving water users demands. Overall, the DSS can provide the MRGCD with a powerful tool that can be used to efficiently schedule water delivery, determine appropriate water use, improve reservoir operations and sustain irrigated agriculture in the face of future water management challenges.