Bureau of Reclamation Yuma Area Office WATER CONSERVATION FIELD SERVICES PROGRAM

FY1999 Annual Report & FY2000 Program Plan BUREAU OF RECLAMATION YUMA AREA WATER CONSERVATION FIELD SERVICES PROGRAM

ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1999 (OCTOBER 1998 TO OCTOBER 1999)

What is Reclamation’s Water becoming harder and harder to make any Conservation Field Services Program ? advances in water conservation through structural measures. Most future advances In 1997 Reclamation created the Water in water conservation can be made through Conservation Field Services Pro gram. This improved water management. program is a firm commitment by Reclamation to: What is meant by “Water Management”? * Encourage water conservation through voluntary and cooperative means; Webster’s Dictionary defines * Assist water agencies to develop and “management” as the skilled handling of implement effective water management and something; or the act of planning, directing, conservation plans; and controlling something in a skilled * Coordinate with other state and local manner. Improving water management will conservation program efforts; involve educational effo rts, improving skills * Foster improved water management; and and abilities, changing attitudes and * Assist water districts as they seek perceptions, and application of new efficiency in their water management, as an technology. alternative to other regulatory measures. Water management is not a structural measure. However, it will need to include What is the “Yuma Area”? some structural components, for example, measuring devices and automation The “Yuma Area” is an administrative area equipment. of Reclamation which includes all users of Colo rado River water downstream of Davis How much potential is there for water Dam, except those served by the Central conservation in the Yuma Area? Arizona Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct. It is a predominately agricultural The Yuma Area water districts divert area, and the major consumer of Colorado about 6.5 million acre-feet of water per year. River water. Thirteen irrigation districts and About 4 million acre-feet of water per year four Indian Reservations irrigate nearly one of this total is diverted and consumed off the million acres of cropland in the Yuma Area. river with no return flows. Conservation of The Yuma Area is composed of a vast and this portion would result in more water being intricate network of water supply and available for other uses. drainage systems. We are approaching the The remainder, about 2.5 million acre-feet limit of what can be justifiably done with per year, is diverted with the unconsumed pipes, concrete, and earthmoving. It is portion returning to the river. Excessive return flows contribute to salt loading, which the Field Services Program in the Yuma increases irrigation requirements downstream Area? and makes efficient scheduling of water deliveries more difficult. Goal No. 1 - Conservation Plans A very modest increase in water use All districts and municipalities over certain efficiency of 5% would result in about minimum sizes, except Indian Reservations, 200,000 acre-feet per year of additional are required by law to prepare a water water available for other uses, plus a net conservation plan. Unfortunately, a legal reduction in salt loading to the river. requirement does not guarantee that a conservation plan will be a bona fide, honest Why should a district or water user try planning effort. to improve their water management? There are 13 districts in the Yuma Area that are required to complete plans. For the user, it pays. In the increasingly (Needles, Bullhead City, and Lake Havasu competitive agricultural marketplace, more City work with the Boulder Canyon Area efficient water use will provide the edge that Office). In addition, there are four Indian agricultural producers will need to prosper. Tribes and several smaller municipalities in Inefficiently managed water costs the user the Yuma area that are not required to not only in water fees, but labor cost, yields, prepare plans. crop uniformity and fertilizer. A genuine planning effort is accomplished For the water district, more efficient ly with public meetings and input. It involves managed water reduces drainage costs and gathering basic resource inventory overall operating expense, while providing information; identifying problems, goals, and better service to its customers. opportunities; and evaluating and selecting Let’s not forget that our water supply is alternative courses of action. not unlimited. Demands for Colorado River Our goal is to work with all Districts and wat er exceed it s long term ability to supply. Indian Tribes to develop genuine water In the future, all water districts and agencies conservation plans. are going to have to show the public that their water use is prudent and reasonable -- Goal No. 2 - Cooperative that all conservation measures which can be Conservation Projects economically justified are being practiced. A Our goal is to be actively working in district or agency with foresight will realize partnership with local agencies on a well that the best way to show prudent water use balanced water management and is with a genuine, credible water conservation program, with emphasis on: conservation plan. * Water Measurement * Irrigation Water Management * Canal Automation * Soil Salinity Management * Conservation Education; and * Water Management & Conservation Planning.

Goal No. 3 - Public Direction of What is Reclamation Trying to Do With Conservation Program landscape irrigation, and mobile, public We want water management and water conservation displays. conservation effort to be responsive to local We demonstrated water measurement concerns. We strive to obtain input from techniques to local schools and Districts with local water users and conservation our portable water demonstration model, and organizations by attending board meetings displayed it at county fairs. and through regular informal meetings. Our goal is to maintain responsiveness to Demonstration of New Technology local concerns through regular and open and Innovative Techniques communication. We were involved with three irrigation water management demonstrations with What did we do with the Field Services emphasis on improved management of Program accomplish in 1999 and what surface irrigation systems. kind of results did we see? We continued to work with the University of Arizona to develop and Internet-based We are building the foundation for an irrigation scheduling program. effective water conservation effort through We signed two cooperative agreements to improved management. To this end we have demonstrate new technology for assessment supported efforts in conservation planning, and diagnosis of soil salinity, and worked conservation education, demonstration of with sponsors to develop another one. new technologies, and implementation of We sponsored a cooperative agreement conservation measures.. with the University of California to conduct a study and demonstration of alternative Conservation Planning forage crops that will evaluate economic We provided assistance directly to Districts alternative forage crops while conserving in preparation of their conservation plans. In water. general, the largest Districts do not require any assistance beyond general policy Implementation of Conservation guidance. Mid-size Districts are being Measures assisted by providing data and information as We provided technical and financial requested. With smaller Districts, we are assistance to five Districts with ongoing assisting them to collect and present data for water measurement improvement projects. their use in selecting alternatives. All 13 About fifty new long-throated flumes have Districts in the area were assisted in some been installed in the Yuma Area with Field form. Services Program assistance, in main canals, laterals, and farm turnouts. Conservation Education We also provided direct assistance to We were partial sponsors of t hree “mobile districts with three canal automation labs” which provide assistance directly to projects. farmers with evaluation of their irrigation management. We sponsored three conservation education projects as shown on the attached list of projects, including new projects such as an outdoor classroom, a program to assist Summary of Projects What are our long range goals? A detailed listing of all active water conservation agreement s is at tached to this The Yuma Area is nearly “built- out” with report. structural measures to conserve water which are feasible. Our focus must be on What are we planning to do in 1999? management measures. There is a tremendous potential for water conservation Our goals in 2000 are: in the Yuma Area through improved 1. Assist Districts to complete seven management. New technology, and new conservation plans. techniques with existing technology, are 2. Provide timely, quality assistance on helping us to meet this challenge, but existing conservation projects & patience, education, and communication are partnerships. vital. 3. Accelerate technical assistance to With the focus on management instead of Districts. . structural measures, a long range strategy is 4. Solicit public input and direction by being developed. As we gain experience and through regular communication with water input from our partners, our strategy will user and conservation districts and other continue to develop. Our long-range strategy interested groups. is to: 5. Develop six new project cooperative 1.Build a good foundation for future agreements, including: implementation through carefully a. A salinity assessment & diagno sis selected studies and demonstration demonstration for the Palo Verde projects. Valley. 2. Build trust and confidence through b. A water measurement partnerships with local Districts and improvement demonstration for the conservation groups. Fort Mohave Indian Tribe. 3.Emphasize quality and genuineness c. An agreement to provide in conservation planning accelerated technical assistance to 4.Solicit public advice and direction. Yuma Area Districts through a As these four strategies are followed, our cooperating agency or university. emphasis should change from demonstration d. Partner with local sponsors for to implementation of conservation measures additional AZMET and CIMIS in future years. weather stations for irrigation scheduling. 6. Expand the public outreach through fairs, field days, and news articles. Summary Reporting Tables

Summarized Water Conservation Field Services Program staff and budget resources for FY 1999

Staff Resources

Total number of Reclamation staff days planned for FY99 2.4

WCFSP Coordinator staff days used 1.0

Support Staff Area Office 1.2 staff days used Regional Office 0.1

Denver Offi ce 0.1

Total number of Reclamation staff days used in FY99 2.4

Estimated number of staff days from others Irrigation 3 (i.e. other agencies or organizations) Districts (ide ntify) Universities 3

Conser vation 3 Districts

Budget Resources

WMC RRA Project EIP Totals O&M & LCROP

Technical Assistance budgeted $149,000 $10,000 $40,000 $124,000 $323,000 (staff and other) expended $149,000 $1,000 $40,000 $124,000 $314,000

Financi al Assis tance budgeted $5,000 $324,000 $329,000 (grants and other) expended $5,000 $324,000 $329,000

Total WCFSP budgeted $149,000 $15,000 $40,000 $448,000 $652,000 Program expended $149,000 $6,000 $40,000 $448,000 $643,000

WMC = Wate r Managemen t and Conser vation RRA = Reclamati on Reform Act Project O&M = Yuma Area Project Operation & Maintenance EIP = Efficiency Incentives Program LCROP = Lower Colorado River Operations Conservation Planning Indicators

Number of districts required to prepare/submit plans 13

Number of acres represented by RRA districts required to submit 978,211 plans

Number of districts with current plans 6

Number of districts overdue for plan development or update 3

Number of districts submitting plans 13

Number of acres served by districts submitting plans 978,211

Number of conservation plans reviewed by Reclamation 6

Number of districts committed to developing/updating plan 13

Program Assistance Indicators

Number of water districts/entities assisted with conservation planning 13

Number of water distri cts/e ntit ies assisted wi th conservation education 10

Number of water districts/entities assisted with conservation demonstrations 17

Number of water distri cts/e ntit ies assisted wi th conservation imp lemen tati on 12

Number of districts assisted in developing and implementing WC measures 11

Number of districts with one-on-one meetings to review plans/explain WCFSP 16

Number of conservation measures/programs implemented by water 36 districts/entities

Number of water districts/entities assisted with “fundamental measures” 6

Number of water districts/entities implementing “fundamental measures” 14 LIST OF ACTIVE WATER CONSERVATION PROJECTS YUMA AREA

Type* Entity Subject CA University of California, Holtville Runoff Reduction and Irrigation Demonstration - Imperial Station Valley. CA Coachella Valley Water District 3 CIMIS (California Irrigation Management Information Service) Stations CA Unit "B" Irrigation and Drainage Low-cost canal automation demonstration District CA University of Arizona, Yuma Irrigation water management study & demonstration, with Agricultural Center alfalfa CA Colorado River Indian Tribes Water measurement improvement & demonstration; and installation of SCADA & automation. CA Bard Water District Water measurement demonstration CA Yuma-Mesa Irrigation & Drainage Irrigation Management Service & No-rust slide gate District demonstration MOA University Of Arizona, Maricopa AZSCHED (Arizona Irrigation Scheduling) computer Center program for Internet MOA Coachella Valley Water District Partnership agreement, Part A - Determining reasonable, beneficial use, water use survey IA Bureau of Indian Affairs, Colorado Construction of water measurement structures. River Agency CA Fort Mohave Indian Tribe Water measurement demonstration and improvement . (DEV) CA Bard Water District Canal automation demonstration - Ypsilanti canal headworks CA University of California Alfalfa drydown study Cooperative Extension, Palo Verde G Sponsor in Palo Verde Valley to be Salinity mapping and assessment demonstration project (DEV) determined CA University of Arizona, Yuma Yuma & Wellton-Mohawk Valleys Irrigation Water Agricultural Center ManagementStudy & Demonstration. G Palo Verde Conservation District Irrigation water management program CA Coachella Resource Conservation Mobile Lab for irrigation evaluations District CA University of California Alternative forage crop demonstration at Holtville & Palo Cooperative Extension Verde (some testing in Arizona) CA Yuma Irrigation District Canal automation demonstration - South Gila Canal headworks Type* Entity Subject CA California Polytechnic State District evaluations & specifications for automation and (DEV) University SCADA systems for Yuma area districts. CA Unit "B" Irrigation & Drainage Water measurement improvement and demonstration. District G University of Arizona, Cooperative JUICE (Joint Urban Irrigation Conservation Education) Extension with Master Gardeners CA California Department of Water CIMIS Station, Ripley, Palo Verde Valley. Resources G Parker Valley Conservation Mobile Lab for irrigation evaluations and education District. CA University of Arizona, Yuma Irrigation water management study & demonstration for Agricultural Center citrus on the Yuma-Mesa landfo rm. CA Coachella Valley Resource Salinity assessment and diagnosis, demonstration of new Conservation District technology CA University of Arizona , Yuma Salinity assessment and diagnosis, demonstration of new Agricultural Center technology CA Wellton-Mohawk Conservation AZMET (Arizona Meteorological Service) Station District CA Mohave Valley Irrigation and Water measurement improvement and demonstrtation Drainage District G University of Arizona Yuma Ag. Water Conservation Kiosks and Displays Center CA Imperial Irrigation District Salinity mapping and assessment demonstration project G Arizona Western College Outdoor Classroom for Water Resource Education - Drip system & weather station G Parker Valley Natural Resources Salinity mapping and assessment demonstration project Conservation District CA City o f Yuma Water Conservation Plan CA Yuma County Water Users' Water measurement improvement & demonstration Association MOA Palo Verde Irrigation District CIMIS Station - North Palo Verde Valley (PVID)

* CA= Cooperative Agreement * MOA = Memorandum of Agreement * G = Grant * IA = Interagency Agreement * DEV = Still under development, not signed yet. YUMA AREA WATER CONSERVATION FIELD SERVICES PROGRAM PLAN OF WORK FOR THE YEAR 2000

Water Conservation Plans District Planned Task Date Employee Months

Bard Water District Assist District to complete plan January -March 0.5

Review & comment on plan April 0.2

Yuma Irrigation District Assist District to complete plan January-April 0.5

Review & comment on plan May 0.2

North Gila Valley Irrigation Review & comment on plan June 0.2 District

Mohave Valley Irrigation Assist District to complete plan March-August 3.0 and Drainage District Review & comment on plan September 0.5

City of Yuma Assist as needed June-October 0.5

Gila Monster Ranch Assist with preparation of plan May- December 1.0

Unit B Irrigation and Assist District to complete plan January-June 1.0 Drainage District Review & comment on plan July 0.2

TOTAL EMPLOYEE TIME FOR CONSERVATION PLANNING - MONTHS : 7.8

USBR Technical Assistance Cooperating Planned Task Date Employee District or Entity Months

Colorado River Indian Tribes and Complete installation of January -September 3.0 Bureau of Indian Affairs, Colorado SCADA System River Agency Water measurement January - December 2.0 structure designs

Yuma Irrigation District Design for structure at S. July 1.0 Gila Canal Heading

Install SCADA at South Gila December 1.0 Heading USBR Technical Assistance Cooperating Planned Task Date Employee District or Entity Months

Bard Water District Designs for water January - December 0.5 measurement structures

Gila Gravity Main Canal Evaluate alternatives - April-October 1.5 improved measurement at Imperial Dam

Field Evaluation- 2 newly March-December 1.5 installed doppler devices at Yuma Mesa delivery

University of Arizona, Cooperative Complete test or “Beta” January-May 2.5 Extension version of Internet AZSCHED, irrigation scheduling program

Field testing/debugging of May-December 0.5 AZSCHED program

Unit B Irrigation and Drainage District Water measurement January - December 0.2 structure designs

Yuma County Water Users’ Association Review water measuring July-December 0.1 structure designs

Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage Calibrate new water June-October 0.5 District measurement meters

Fort Mohave Indian Tribe Design of water June-November 0.2 measurement structures

Coachella Valley Water District Field audit of water use April-November 0.5 survey

Yuma Mesa Irrigation and Drainage Neutron moisture meter January-December 2.0 District assistance- safety/supply

University of Arizona, Yuma Field Collection of soil March-December 1.0 Agricultural Center moisture data

Prototype field irrigation data March 0.2 logger

TOTAL EMPLOYEE TIME FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - MONTHS : 18.6 New Water Conservation Agreements Cooperating Project Expected Employee Planned USBR District or Entity Duration Months to Dollars to Cost of Project Develop Obligate Share (Years) Agreement (%)

California Polytechnic Technical Assistance to 4 0.2 $100,000 100% State University, Irrigation Yuma Area Districts Training & Research Center

Fort Mohave Indian Tribe Water Measurement 3 0.2 $15,000 50% Improvement Program

Coachella Valley Resource “Mobile Lab” for Irrigation 4 0.1 $50,000 25% Conservation District Evaluations and Education

(To be Selected Through Palo Verde Valley, Soil 2 0.5 $70,000 25% to Competitive Process) Salinity Assessment 50% Demonstration

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Water Measurement 3 0.5 $35,000 50% Service Improvement Program

University of California Surge Irrigation Study, 2 0.2 $50,000 50% Holtville Station Imperial Valley

TOTAL EMPLOYEE TIME FOR DEVELOPING NEW AGREEMENTS - 1.7 MONTHS :

TOTAL FUNDS TO BE OBLIGATED DEVELOPING NEW AGREEMENTS - $320,000 MONTHS :

Information & Education Program Audience Planned Task Date Employee Months

Water Users, Board Quarterly Newsletter January, April, July, 0.5 Members, Others on October Mailing list

Agricultural Public in Yuma News Articles-Local May, August 0.2 Area Agricultural Papers

General Public, Imperial County Fair Booth & March 0.2 County Display

General Public, La Paz County Fair Booth & March 0.2 County Display Information & Education Program Audience Planned Task Date Employee Months

General Public, Yuma County Fair Booth & March - April 0.2 County Display

General Public, Palo Verde County Fair Booth & April 0.2 Valley Display

Agriculture & Natural Water Measurement February, November 0.1 Resource College Students, Laboratory Yuma County

Military Personnel USMC Air Station Energy October 0.1 Fair Display

USA Yuma Proving Ground April 0.1 Earth Day Booth & Display

Elementary and Junior Science Fair November 0.1 High, Yuma County

TOTAL EMPLOYEE TIME FOR INFORMATION & EDUCATION PROGRAM: 1.9

TOTALS FOR YUMA AREA WATER CONSERVATION FIELD SERVICES PROGRAM Employee Time (Months) 30 Employee Time (Years) 2.5 Dollars Obligated to New Projects $320,000