This document summarizes water management strategies presented at a Utah League of Cities and Towns event on September 17, 2015. It discusses programs and research from Utah State University on water conservation for landscaping, agriculture, and water quality. Speakers presented on topics like using remote sensing to track irrigation efficiency, citizen water quality monitoring, climate data collection, and using native plants to support water-wise landscaping. The goal is to identify ways to conserve urban and agricultural water resources through improved irrigation practices, education, and adapting to Utah's climate.
2. Kelly Kopp
Extension Water Conservation &
Turfgrass Specialist
USU’s Center for
Water Efficient Landscaping:
Products & Programs for Utahns
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8. 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
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13. Joanna Endter-Wada, Ph.D.
Diana Glenn, M.S.
Urban Water Conservation Research Laboratory
Dept. of Environment and Society
Quinney College of Natural Resources
Roger Kjelgren, Ph.D.
Dept. of Plants, Soils and Climate
College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Doug Ramsey, Ph.D. and Chris Gerrard
USU Remote Sensing/Geographic Information Systems Laboratory
14. 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
15. Parcel-scale Landscape
Irrigation Ratios (LIRs)
Landscape Water Use
___________________
Landscape Water Need
LIR =
(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 = Efficient
Between 1 and 2 = Acceptable
Between 2 and 3 = Inefficient
Greater than 3 = Excessive
16. Example service area and neighborhood
April 1 – October 31, 2013
1369 Locations; Mean LIR = 2.01
Neighborhood View
19. Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2010
(USGS, 2014)Water Use by Counties
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50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
500,000
FreshWaterDiversions(ac-ft/year)
2010 Water Diversions for Utah Counties. In Utah 78% Ag and Golf Course Irrigation.
Irrigation Golf Course Irrigation Aquaculture Other Uses
20. 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
21. 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/
23. 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
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. Water Quality
Nancy Mesner, Extension Water Quality Specialist
USU Quinney College of Natural Resources
Resources and programs for all people
Water is Life:
Quality Matters
27. 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
28. 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
29. 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
34. Water Conservation Programs in
Landscape Horticulture
Larry Rupp
Extension Landscape Horticulture Specialist
35. 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
38. Residential Water Use
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000
SeasonalLandscapeWaterApplied,Inches
Landscape Area, ft2
Water Efficient
West Jordan Potable Water Use, 2000
Water Waste
