Using Resources Wisely

Water Management:

Utah League of Cities and Towns

17 September 2015

Utah State University

Kelly KoppExtension Water Conservation &

Turfgrass Specialist

USU’s Center for Water Efficient Landscaping:

Products & Programs for Utahns

Property Characteristics Average Number

Lot Size (ft2) 13,251 782

Landscape Size (ft2) 7796 788

Hardscape Size (ft2) 5288 781

Irrigation System Characteristics Fixed Rotor

Ave. Operating Pressure (PSI) 47.3 52.7

Ave. Distribution Uniformity (%) 56.9 57.6

Ave. Precipitation Rate (in/hour) 1.8 1.0

Joanna Endter-Wada, Ph.D.Diana Glenn, M.S.Urban Water Conservation Research LaboratoryDept. of Environment and Society Quinney College of Natural Resources

Roger Kjelgren, Ph.D. Dept. of Plants, Soils and ClimateCollege of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Doug Ramsey, Ph.D. and Chris GerrardUSU Remote Sensing/Geographic Information Systems Laboratory

ASSESS:identify locations with capacity to conserve

urban irrigation water

DELIVER:water use reports

to help people conserve

TRACK:water use change over

time; monitor conservation success

Parcel-scale Landscape Irrigation Ratios (LIRs)

Landscape Water Use ___________________

Landscape Water NeedLIR =

(estimated from analysis of municipal or water provider meter data)

______________________________________

(estimated from classification of remotely-sensed airborne multispectral imagery, localized reference ETo rates modified by relevant landscape correction factors, and policy assumptions)

(per unit of landscaped

area)

(Identifies Capacity to Conserve Outdoor Water)

LIR less than 1 = EfficientBetween 1 and 2 = AcceptableBetween 2 and 3 = InefficientGreater than 3 = Excessive

Example service area and neighborhood

April 1 – October 31, 2013

1369 Locations; Mean LIR = 2.01

Neighborhood View

Example Water Use Report (USU-WBWCD)

footnotes

footnotes

Agriculture Water ManagementNiel Allen, Extension Irrigation Specialist

Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2010 (USGS, 2014)Water Use by Counties

-

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

450,000

500,000

Fres

h W

ater

Div

ersi

on

s (a

c-ft

/yea

r)

2010 Water Diversions for Utah Counties. In Utah 78% Ag and Golf Course Irrigation.

Irrigation Golf Course Irrigation Aquaculture Other Uses

Extension Agriculture Water Conservation/Use Expertise• Agronomy – Dr. Earl Creech

• Vegetables – Dr. Dan Drost

• Fruit – Dr. Brent Black

• Weed Management – Dr. Ralph Whitesides

• Pest Management – Dr. Ricardo Ramirez and others

• Soils and Fertility – Dr. Grant Cardon

• Irrigation – Dr. Niel Allen

• Local County Agricultural Agents

Water Management

Irrigation Management Water Management during Drought Irrigation System Maintenance Irrigation System Improvements Irrigation Application Uniformity Irrigation Scheduling Crop Water Use Soil Moisture Measurement Water Measurement Agriculture Weather Network Crop Selection Cropping Practice Water Measurement and Management https://extension.usu.edu/irrigation/ Utah Climate Center (Ag Weather

Network) https://climate.usurf.usu.edu/

Utah Water Research Lab

Alfonso Torres-RuaResearch Engineer, AggieAir

AggieAir - Agriculture

Evapotranspiration rate (mm/day)

(left) (from METRIC) and crop

nitrogen content (right) (from a

machine learning/RVM approach).

Sub-meter resolution estimates of

crop dry-weight biomass, yield

forecasts, and other valuable

information will eventually be

possible with collection of sufficient

data.

www.aggieair.usu.edu

AggieAir Examples: Precision Agriculture

Plant

chlorophyll

estimates

made from

AggieAir

imagery and

RVM

modeling

Approach.

Surface soil

moisture

estimates

made from

AggieAir

imagery and

ANN

modeling.

Agriculture using Satellite Data*

* Crop and Water Monitoring and Information System

Crop Stress Crop Yield Crop Water Use

CWMIS* A web platform to provide farmers / irrigators with current information about their fields using satellite information.

Water QualityNancy Mesner, Extension Water Quality Specialist

USU Quinney College of Natural Resources

Resources and programs for all people

Water is Life:Quality Matters

Age appropriate, unbiased, aligned to Utah core;

Flexible, interdisciplinary format with STEM connections;

Since 2006:

More than 250 educators trained each year;

We provide activities for ~ 8000 kids each year.

Proven to increase knowledge in science and awareness of water pollution protection

Learn more at streamsidescience.usu.edu

Streamside Science: water-related, hands-on education for grades K-12

In 2014, over 1,600 participants monitored 111 sites.

We assign appropriate sites and provide all necessary equipment.

We train all volunteers on field techniques and how to use our online database.

Utah Water Watch: Citizen monitoring

Learn more at: extension.usu.edu/utahwaterwatch

A partnership with USU extension, agencies, conservation districts, private business and landowners.

We provide trainings, outreach, and assistance to private landowners.

Watershed management

Learn more at: www.utahcleanwater.org

Robert Gillies, State Climatologist

Researchclimate extremes, variability, trendsdroughtdynamics & ENSOsevere weathertropical cyclones

data networksinstrumentation networks

forecasts & projectionsoutreach & education

Service

data networksinstrumentation networks

forecasts & projectionsoutreach & education

Service

Servicedata networks

instrumentation networksforecasts & projections

outreach & education

Water Conservation Programs in Landscape Horticulture

Larry RuppExtension Landscape Horticulture Specialist

Quality of Life

“. . . when I walked past my first lawn,…

I stooped down and touched its cool nap

in awe and unbelief. I think I held my

breath - I had not known that people

anywhere lived with such grace.”

Wallace Stegner

HOODOO© Mountain Mahogany

ALICE© Bigtooth Maple

UVATUNG© Penstemon

Native plants for landscaping

Supporting the Green Industry

Residential Water Use

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20

40

60

80

100

120

140

0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000

Seas

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and

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Landscape Area, ft2

Water Efficient

West Jordan Potable Water Use, 2000

Water Waste

We can conserve water and enjoy our landscapes

Water Management:

Using Resources Wisely

Questions?

Utah League of Cities and Towns17 September 2015