Agricultural Water conservation: economics and policy

1. Agricultural Water conservation: economics and policy ACF Stakeholders Governing Board Albany, GA – December 8, 2011 Mark H. Masters Albany State University

2. Growth in Irrigation

4. $31.18/inch $33.58/inch $57.31/inch Caution: This is an average and irrigation is NOT a linear function

5. Lower Flint-Ochlockonee Planning Council • 14 Counties • All or part of 13 HUC 8 Watersheds • Ag irrigation is predominant use of water • 658,561 acres • Endangered species and critical habitat • GA – FLA – AL

6. Farm Gate Value Lower Flint = $1.820 billion GA = $11.5 billion

8. Challenges/Opportunities • Tri-State Water Conflict • Litigation • Negotiation • US Fish and Wildlife Critical Habitat • Low flow criteria? • Regional Water Planning • Consumptive Use Assessments • Gap Analysis • Management Options

9. Milestones in Management • Began issuing withdrawal permits for agricultural uses of more than 100K gpd in 1988

10. EPD Issues & ManagesAgricultural Water Withdrawal Permits 15,600 wells(blue) - Floridan and other aquifers 16,700 pumps (green) - farm ponds and streams * fall, 2008; includes current applications • Required since 1988 • Specifies location of withdrawal • Types • GW – Wells • SW – Streams, ponds, reservoirs • Well to Pond • Irrigated field location NOT specified • Change location and area each year • Maximum irrigated area listed • Withdrawal quantity NOT specified • Change days of irrigation each year • Maximum pumping rate listed

11. Milestones in Management • Began issuing withdrawal permits for agricultural uses of more than 100K gpd in 1988 • Moratorium placed on new permits in SWGA (1999) • Passed Flint River Drought Protection Act in 2000 – in response to projected low flows

12. Flint River Drought Protection Act • An auction based program designed to temporarily remove irrigated acreage form production in order to protect streamflow • Predicated on drought declaration from EPD Director in consultation with State Climatologist (March 1) • Inaugural auction held March 15, 2001 • 33,101 acres retired from irrigated production • Average bid: $136/acre • $4.5 million paid to growers • Auction held again in 2002 • 40,894 acres retired • Average bid: $128/acre • $5.2 million paid to growers • Major changes for Act after Flint River Water Dev. and Conservation Plan passed March 2006

13. Milestones in Management • Began issuing withdrawal permits for agricultural uses of more than 100K gpd in 1988 • Moratorium placed on new permits in SWGA (1999) • Passed Flint River Drought Protection Act in 2000 – in response to projected low flows • Passed Agricultural Water Use Program 2003 (metering) – establish individual reasonable use and increase knowledge for planning

14. SWCC Installs & ManagesAgricultural WaterUse Meters Required effective July, 2009 Started installation 2004 SWCC manages installation Grandfather permits – SWCC installs > 2003 permits – owner responsible Field Locations Mapped Specific area and meter location Wetted area Records water applied to field, not necessarily water withdrawn from source GW – Wells SW – Streams, ponds, reservoirs Well to Pond Georgia Forestry Commission Visits fields annually Records amount applied (acre-in)

15. Milestones in Management • Began issuing withdrawal permits for agricultural uses of more than 100K gpd in 1988 • Moratorium placed on new permits in SWGA (1999) • Passed Flint River Drought Protection Act in 2000 – in response to projected low flows • Passed Agricultural Water Use Program 2003 (metering) – establish individual reasonable use and increase knowledge for planning • Passed Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Planning Act 2004 • Lower Flint River Regional Water Development and Conservation Plan – 2006 – permit moratorium

17. Milestones in Management • Water Stewardship Act – 2010

19. Milestones in Management • Water Stewardship Act – 2010 • Regional Water Planning Councils – current

20. Priority Management Practices MCH • Support Tier 1 and 2 conservation activities • Encourage point source discharges for major facilities • Study new and/or enhancement of existing storage reservoirs • Implement new and/or enhance existing surface water storage • Utilize and improve upon reservoir release operations • Advocate for changes to the Corps Water Control Manual • Improve water quality monitoring UFL • Improve agricultural water use metering program • Suspend irrigation only through Flint River Drought Protection Act • Evaluate storage options in Upper Flint for supply and flow augmentation LFO • Continue improving ag water use efficiency through innovation • Evaluate reservoir storage options in Flint River Basin for flow augmentation • Replace surface water withdrawals with groundwater withdrawals • Continue enforcement of existing permits, regulations and implementation of existing plans and practices

21. Ag Management Options – Current and Future? • Conservation • Irrigation scheduling, precision application strategies, conservation tillage, etc…. • Flint River Drought Protection Act • Emergency Powers • Permit Modification and/or Revocation • Augmentation • Statute Changes • Demand Management = Exposure to Individuals…To What End?

23. Mark H. MastersAlbany State University Georgia Water Planning & Policy Center mmasters@h2opolicycenter.org 229-430-2900 x36

24. Drought Declaration Deadline Mid-Season Management?

25. Multiplier IMPLAN Results