Development and implementation of a farm water conservation program within the Coachella Valley Water District, California

Abstract

A farm water conservation program was created in May 2003 by the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) to reduce demand for Colorado River water following a reduction in annual supply of 109,000 acre-feet (135 MCM, 31 %). JMLord, Inc. was hired to provide services to water-users within the District. Key components of the 2003 program were water user training and field services. The program supported water user decision-making and led to reductions in farm water demand within the first 7 months. The training program was developed to share the theory and practice of irrigation and salinity management. Weekly meetings were held from June to October, covering a wide range of topics. Activities included lectures, discussions, field demonstrations, and hands-on workshops. Water user participation was excellent. Field services provided one-on-one interaction to implement the concepts of the training meetings. Services included irrigation scheduling, irrigation performance evaluations, salinity management, and feasibility studies for system improvements. Water users representing approximately 40% of the farmed area became involved in the program, and many identified reductions in water use. Successful long-term conservation programs must focus on both achieving water savings and on verifying that the savings occur. The key to supporting water users in conserving water is developing trust by protecting trade secrets and by demonstrating the effectiveness of scientific management techniques.