Moving Forward on Agricultural Water Conservation in the Colorado River Basin

Masih AkhbariVisiting ScholarColorado Water Institute, CSU

Perry CabotWater Resources SpecialistColorado Water Institute, CSU

Hannah LovePhD StudentDept. of Sociology, CSU

Kelsea MacIlroyPhD StudentDept. of Sociology, CSU

Beth PlombonMA StudentDept. of Sociology, CSU

Adam SchemppStaff Attorney & DirectorWestern Water Program, Environmental Law Institute

MaryLou SmithPolicy & Collaboration SpecialistColorado Water Institute, CSU

Pete TaylorProfessorDept. of Sociology, CSU

Brad UdallSenior Water & Climate ScientistColorado Water Institute, CSU

Reagan WaskomDirectorColorado Water Institute, CSU

NIFA Watershed Scale Project 2013-05798

• Unprecedented 15-Year Drought

• Low Lake Mead and Powell Levels

• First Shortages Ever Likely soon

• Power Losses• Central AZ

Project Threats*Structural

Deficit in Lower Basin*Unresolved

Tribal Claims

• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s “Next Steps” Study calls for 1MAF per year from Ag for urban and environmental uses

• Can that be done without negative effect on food production, rural communities?

• Are “water sharing” strategies that avoid permanent dry up feasible?

Ag Water is Targeted for Other Uses in the Colorado River Basin

Project Objectives

1. Evaluate Available Conservation Technology

2. Identify Legal, Economic, Social Barriers

3. Strategize with Ag Producers/Water Managers and Policy Leaders to Overcome Barriers

4. Share Findings to Motivate Action Moving Forward

Objective 1

Multi-site, 3-year comparisons water use, crop yield and

enterprise budgets between irrigation systems on spectrum

of water efficiency.

System of Projects

Objective 1

Objective 2 Identify Sociological Barriers and Disincentives

and Opportunities for Collaboration for Ag Water Conservation

• Identified and explored 75 case studies of various Ag water conservation programs across the West.

• Selected 6 case studies for in-depth analysis of legal, economic and socio-cultural barriers and disincentives to agricultural water conservation

Case Studies of Innovative Collaboration Among Irrigators, State & Federal Officials, Municipalities & NGOs

Research Questions:What brought diverse groups together around ag water conservation?How do they address ag water conservation’s formidable obstacles?

What lessons can be learned that will be useful elsewhere?

Grand Valley Water Users Association (CO)

Colorado Water Trust’s McKinley Ditch project on the Cimarron River (CO)

Super Ditch in Colorado’s Southwest (CO)

Palo Verde Irrigation District (PVID) & Metropolitan Water District (CA)

Yuma Mesa Irrigation & Drainage District (YMIDD) &Central AZ Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD) (AZ)

Diamond S Ditch & Verde River Initiative (AZ)

Objective 2

Stakeholder-led knowledge production

Barriers and Disincentives • Legal: “use it or lose it”; fears related to abandonment; third-

party injury issues; Upper-Lower Basin Compact issues

• Economic: high costs of conservation investments; crop characteristics; possible impacts on yields and returns; lack of cropping alternatives; little direct economic benefits to farmers

• Socio-cultural: diverse perceptions of “conservation” and “efficiency”; aversion to risk; distrust; uncertain shift to a new farming generation; negative impacts on local communities

Objective 3: Strategize with Ag Producers/Water Managers and Policy Leaders to Overcome Barriers

• “Use it or Lose It—Myth or Reality?”

• With Colorado SEO Convened Legal, Agricultural, Environmental Experts to Clarify What is Law, and What Changes Needed?

• Special Report: How Diversion and Beneficial Use of Water Affect the Value and Measure of a Water Right

Strategy Meetings with Ag Producers

Objective 4: Share Findings to Motivate Action

6 Short Courses “Students in Dialogue

about Water”

“I learned there’s more to the hydrologic cycle

than just equations; people are affected too.”

Emerging Lessons on Ag Water Conservation

• One-size-fits-all solutions unlikely to be successful – each Irrigation District is unique

• There are alternatives to “buy & dry” and fallowing but…

• Critical factors: favorable hydrological factors, flexible legal contexts, appropriate risk/cost sharing, good faith, communication, trust

• Ag water conservation can benefit farmers and help sustain agricultural security concerns but we must address institutional and economic barriers.

Moving Forward on Ag Water Conservation in the Colorado River Basin

For more information visit

www.crbagwater.colostate.edu