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Enhancing Agricultural Water Resources at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Kevin Piper Director, Agricultural Operations College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences June 17, 2014 CHES Conference, San Diego State University

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Topics Agricultural Water System Overview Agricultural Water Management Review Improvement Plan Ag Water Usage Student Involvement Rainwater Harvesting Project

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Farm History University Archives, Cal Poly

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Agricultural Water System Overview

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2010 CAFES Ag Water System Evaluation 2011 Stenner Creek Watershed Study 2012 Water Rights Analysis 2013 Initiated Agricultural Water System Improvement Plan Agricultural Water Management Review

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Components to the plan: Installation of water flow meters Filter station upgrades Installation of efficient sprinklers Installation of micro emitters Repair/replace all the sprinkler pipe Design and Installation of a new pumping station Prioritize and add/replace approx. 9,000 feet of underground pipeline. Development of a water management system for irrigation Ag Water System Improvement Plan

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Flow Meters

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Filter Systems Upgrades Screen Filter System Sand Media Filters

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Irrigation Weather Tec 10-20 & 10-30 SprinklersNetafim SuperNet jet Drip tape

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Pump Station

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Pump Station Design

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Underground Pipeline

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Combination of Information: Use of CIMIS for weekly evapotranspiration (eT) rates Use of irrigation calculator Use of AdCon Telemetry http://apro.mccrometer.net http://apro.mccrometer.net Irrigation Water Management System

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Use of soil tensiometers Irrigation Water Management System

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Historical Ag Water Use Current Ag Water Use Efficiencies Gained Remaining areas for improved efficiency Agricultural Water Usage

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To Date: Pump Station Design Construction of the pump station concrete pad Development of an irrigation scheduling guide Student Assistant irrigation crew Irrigation system evaluations Student Involvement

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Collaborative Project between Cal Poly, Morro Bay National Estuary Program and the California Conservation Corps Designed to alleviate water competition between water users and wildlife Rainwater harvesting to augment water use, reduce pumping of riparian wells, and improve on-site storm water management. Project went on line Fall of 2013 Rainwater Harvesting Project

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Rainwater Harvesting Site

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Rainwater Harvesting Collection

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Questions?