FOOD, AGRICULTURE & DROUGHT

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1 FOOD, AGRICULTURE & DROUGHT PROGRAMS AND POLICY FOR DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE Nellie McAdams, Attorney and Consultant

2 RESOURCES Oregon Environmental Council s (OEC s) Making Water Work Oregon Water Resources Department s (OWRD s) Integrated Water Resources Strategy

3 AGRICULTURAL WATER USE IN OREGON 79% of Oregon s total water withdrawals are for agricultural uses 77% of Oregon s agricultural production is from irrigated crops 61% of harvested cropland was irrigated in 2007(1,845,194 acres) Yet in 2008, ~75% of the 135 water conservation projects identified by the state were for municipal, not agricultural water 50% of Oregon s agricultural water users depend upon snowpack 38% reduction in watermaster staffing since Fund staffing

4 IMPACT OF AG WATER CONSERVATION If on-farm efficiency were improved to 70-80% across Central Oregon, as much water would be saved as the Portland Water Bureau uses each year (36 billion gallons). The average Portland water user pays 26 cents per 100 gallons of potable water, whereas average ag user pays 26 cents per 10,000 gallons of nonpotable. Irrigators who source their water directly from a stream or a well pay nothing for the water itself. Annual water rights management fee to users.

5 WATER RIGHTS: VALUE/AVAILABILITY The cost of a water right (especially senior rights) can comprise most of the price of farmland lease or purchase. Most of Oregon s surface waters are already fully appropriated during non-winter months and some are over-appropriated OWRD has not completed groundwater basin studies for all basins Only 8% of water rights require measurement, but OWRD and the Water Resources Commission may require measurement (ORS ) Irrigators said this might be the year they contest illegal uses.

6 WATER RIGHTS: BENEFICIAL USE Water rights holders may use less water and maintain their full water rights as long as they are ready, willing and able * to make full use of the right. (ORS , 1997) *Clarify definition. The Oregon Water Resources Department generally only enforces forfeiture when a complaint is filed, or when the user applies to change their water right. Forfeiture may be partial. A water right may be subject to forfeiture if a facility is down-sized such that it is not capable of handling the entire water right. Water from forfeited rights may be used by other users.

7 GROUNDWATER: REASONS TO SWITCH Decreasing surface water supply and quality Fear that surface water rights will be called mid-season Conserving instream flows for habitat Food safety requirements (FSMA) Reducing operational costs

8 STORAGE Irrigation districts east of the Cascades in particular are funding innovative water storage projects, including groundwater recharge during months of high instream flows. OWRD Water Development Loan Program

9 EFFICIENCY: SUPPLY SIDE 92% of the agricultural water conservation projects submitted to the OWRD s 2008 survey of conservation opportunities were supply side projects. Projects include: piping or lining earthen canals and ditches to reduce seepage and evaporation, conversion to pressurized systems, metering water deliveries, and modifying facilities and policies to increase the flexibility of deliveries

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11 EFFICIENCY: DEMAND SIDE MEASURES Irrigation scheduling Crop tables Created in Could be updated in light of climate change. Evapotranspiration tracking Soil moisture testing Variable frequency drives for water pumps More efficient irrigation infrastructure Transfer or lease of full or partial instream water rights Deficit irrigation for maximum profit, rather than maximum yield Increasing soil humus

12 EFFICIENCY: SIDE BENEFITS Saves money by reducing labor costs associated with moving hand lines and managing flood irrigation ditches Improves water quality by reducing runoff and leaching Improves crop yield and quality by giving plants the appropriate amount of water Saves money by reducing the quantity of fertilizer that is needed and allowing for fertigation

13 EFFICIENCY: PROGRAMS AND $ OWEB grants for water conservation projects that benefit stream flows via instream water leases and transfers NRCS Cooperative Conservation Project funds, administered by regional RC&Ds NRCS EQIP for growers at up to 75% costshare NRCS Agricultural Water Enhancement Program: associations or governmental bodies coordinate EQIP applications. Oregon Department of Agriculture: makes federal funding available for energy conservation irrigation projects The Energy Trust of Oregon financial incentives for irrigation efficiency projects that save energy as well as water Public Utilities that provide BPA electricity offer incentives that are similar to the Energy Trust incentives. The Columbia Basin Water Transactions Program: Administered by National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, funded by BPA in cooperation with the Northwest Power and Conservation Council Bureau of Reclamation Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund

14 COST AS A BARRIER TO FARMERS 2008 Federal Farm & Ranch Irrigation Survey (FRIS) found the greatest barrier was money; growers feel that the financial benefits are not worth the investment. Beyond cost, individuals do not have the technical knowledge, knowledge of the programs, grant writing ability, or time. Successful projects have been coordinated by partners. Cost-share applications can delay projects by a year or more. Coordination of programs and a one-stop clearing house Pricing structures from Irrigation Districts can incentivize conservation, but they must be able to measure water use (meters).

15 ALLOCATION OF CONSERVED WATER PROGRAM OWRD determines if the project will result/has resulted in reduced water demand. At least 25% of the conserved water is left in-stream as exchange for the rights, unless more than 25% of money for conservation came from state or federal nonreimbursable funds. User chooses whether the new instream right has the same priority date as the original right or one minute junior to it. Expand to basins with highest need and potential impact Expand the use of AWCP to non-physical conservation improvements, e.g. irrigation scheduling or deficit irrigation

16 FOOD, AGRICULTURE & DROUGHT PROGRAMS AND POLICY FOR DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE Nellie McAdams, Attorney and Consultant