WATER & ECONOMICS OPTIMIZATION PROJECT
Water and Economics Optimization Project (WEOP), optimizes irrigation system and water management efficiencies through technology. More water can be made available for in-stream use while optimizing agriculture profitability. The project will take place in the Ochoco Irrigation District in Prineville, Oregon.
Background. C
an agriculture use less water and be profitable? Western water law, historic irrigation methods, and agricultural lending practices provide little incentive for efficient water use. This situation will not change without economically viable alternatives. By taking aim at the intersection of economics and ecology, we seek to demonstrate a way to use less water while optimizing profitability — creating a transition path to optimized water use.
Outcomes. Our ultimate outcome with the Water and Economics Optimization Project (WEOP) is to credibly demonstrate to irrigators that optimized water use is in their economic self-interest.
Actions. WEOP introduces irrigators to a new irrigation management paradigm based on “optimizing” economic objectives – or maximizing net economic benefits rather than maximizing crop yields, customary in conventional irrigation management.
During Year 1, the project will gather baseline economic and production data as the selected producers irrigate using customary irrigation practices. At the end of Year 1, irrigators will be provided with: (1) recommendations to increase irrigation system performance, (2) use of scientific irrigation scheduling and (3) a framework to apply WEOP principles to maximize economic revenue and optimize crop production inputs (e.g., fertilizer, water, energy, labor etc.).
In Years 2 and 3, irrigators will manage irrigation using WEOP principles. In Year 3, if irrigators are convinced that WEOP optimization provides them with acceptable levels of risk, producers will voluntarily enter into a water-market lease consistent with irrigation district, state and federal policy. The cooperating organizations will work to remove any barriers to implement water-market solutions. The water-market lease would put water in-stream using all or part of the conserved water to benefit water quality and fish while sustaining economic agricultural productivity. The project begins in early 2005 and is scheduled to end in late 2007.
Capabilities. Wy'East Resource Conservation & Development Council, an Oregon 501(c)(3), is the lead organization that will coordinate the conservation partners involved in the project. Since our founding in 1996, Wy'East aims to employ strategies for sustainable development that builds community social cohesion, economic viability, and responsible use of natural resources in north central Oregon. Wy'East has demonstrated strengths in its ability to address problems and opportunities from a multi-county or watershed perspective. This is achieved through collaboration with communities to connect and pool resources to accomplish mutual goals to build sustainable communities.
Wy'East has a credible history working with orchard growers to reduce the use of organophosphate pesticides in orchards. Growers have quickly embraced the use of a network of remote weather stations in orchards to collect weather data to calculate pest and disease degree-day models for crop management. Using a web-based interface, growers use the degree-day models and data to precisely time application of new generation, less toxic pesticides. In the WEOP project, these weather stations will collect climatic and soil moisture data to run a scientific irrigation scheduling model.
Oregon State University (OSU) research conducted by Dr. Marshall English and Dr. Gregory Perry forms the intellectual basis of “Water Economic Optimization.” OSU will provide an advisory service to assist farmers with formulating optimum irrigation management strategies. OSU analytical tools will provide a sophisticated approach to key physical and biological processes for advanced modeling of crop production and water application efficiency to “optimize” irrigation.
Cooperating Organizations include Ochoco Irrigation District, Crook Soil & Water Conservation District, OSU Cooperative Extension Service – Crook County, Deschutes Resources Conservancy, and Oregon Trout.
Budget. The total project cost is $752,417, and the project has been awarded funding in the amount of $303,118 from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Innovation Grants—a highly competitive process. Wy'East and the project collaborators will contribute $86,320 of in-kind goods and services match. We are currently seeking additional funding.
For More Information. Contact Merlin Berg at 541-296-2391 x117