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.

1. Using Resources Wisely
Water Management:
Utah League of Cities and Towns
17 September 2015
Utah State University

2. Kelly Kopp
Extension Water Conservation &
Turfgrass Specialist
USU’s Center for
Water Efficient Landscaping:
Products & Programs for Utahns

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

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

17. Example Water Use Report (USU-WBWCD)
footnotes
footnotes

18. Agriculture Water Management
Niel Allen, Extension Irrigation Specialist

19. Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2010
(USGS, 2014)Water Use by Counties
-
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/

22. Utah Water Research Lab
Alfonso Torres-Rua
Research Engineer, AggieAir

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

30. Robert Gillies,
State Climatologist

31. Research
climate extremes, variability, trends
drought
dynamics & ENSO
severe weather
tropical cyclones
data networks
instrumentation networks
forecasts & projections
outreach & education
Service

32. data networks
instrumentation networks
forecasts & projections
outreach & education
Service

33. Service
data networks
instrumentation networks
forecasts & projections
outreach & education

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

36. HOODOO© Mountain
Mahogany
ALICE© Bigtooth Maple
UVATUNG© Penstemon
Native plants for landscaping

37. Supporting the Green Industry

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

39. We can conserve water and enjoy our landscapes

40. Water Management:
Using Resources Wisely
Questions?
Utah League of Cities and Towns
17 September 2015