Adapting to Climate Change, One Farm at a Time. BCWWA Annual Conference, May 29, 2015 Colwyn Sunderland

Transcription

1 Adapting to Climate Change, One Farm at a Time BCWWA Annual Conference, May 29, 2015 Colwyn Sunderland

2 Overview 2 1. Background 2. Farm Water Planning Toolkit 3. Piloting 4. What Have We Learned So Far? 5. What Next?

3 Background 3 Project (Toolkit) Objectives 1. Increase awareness of climate impacts on farming 2. Develop practical water management tools for producers 3. Increase resiliency

4 Project Partners 4 Cowichan Regional Adaptation Strategies

5 Study Area 5 Kelowna Cowichan Valley Regional District Victoria Vancouver

6 Box 9 Box 8 Box 7 Box Farm Water Planning Toolkit 6 Modular, form-driven approach 1. Screening Questions 2. Current Situations 3. Future Scenarios 4. Water Management Gaps 5. Water Management Strategies CURRENT SITUATIONS WATER SUPPLY MODULE Integrated Farm Water Planning Pilot CURRENT SITUATIONS WATER USE MODULE 5) WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES MODULE Integrated Farm Water Planning Pilot Integrated Farm Water Planning Pilot Drainage (continued) Strategies Notes Resources Raise land If you can not relocate a building, raise the land to the flood plain elevation. Contact local government to discuss. Drainage Ref #7 Modeled after home energy audits 7) Is your irrigation usage metered? Yes No Farm Info Source 6) Build a dike/pump station Drainage Ref #7, 8, & 9 Strategies to Address High Water Table 7) Upgrade downstream conditions The groundwater table may be to lower groundwater table higher due to water ponding Consult with a Drainage downstream of your farm. Assess the downstream conditions to determine options. 8) Maintain subsurface drainage Drainage Ref #7 & 10 Install subsurface drainage 9) flow rate requirement for your region? 9) What is the estimated peak irrigation Annual Demand Peak Day Appendix C Table 8) What is your irrigation usage? Farm Info/Meter Specialist. Drainage Ref # 7 requirement for your region? 10) What is the estimated annual crop Appendix C Table Drainage Ref #7, 11 to 13 10) Drainage Pump to lower water level & berming Drainage Ref #9 Strategies to Address Local Flooding Issues 11) Assess the capacity of the on-farm Review how the on-farm drainage Consult with a drainage drainage system. system is operating to understand specialist, or complete a if issues can be addressed with visual inspection during a maintenance or if drainage storm event to look for upgrades are required. issues. Drainage Ref #2 12) Assess the capacity of the If the downstream system does downstream drainage system. not have capacity to pass storm events, the water may backwater Consult with a drainage onto your property. Assessment specialist, or complete a would review downstream visual inspection during a channels, culverts and discharge storm event to look for locations. Assessment would issues. Drainage Ref #2 determine if issues can be addressed with maintenance or if upgrades are required. 11) Calculated peak crop demand. Box 10 Demand Irrigations Calculated See Complements existing programs 12) Calculated annual crop demand. Box 11 Irrigation (continued) 1) Is the volume you are able to use from the regional/municipal system limited? Yes No Farm Info a) If yes, what is the peak use limit? Box 1 2) Are you metered? Yes No 3) How are you charged for water? Fixed rate (not based on volume) Farm Info Volume based - flat rate Volume based - inclining rate Volume based - seasonally rates Comments Regional/Municipal Water System Complete this section if you are supplied by a regional/municipal water supply If you are supplied by other water sources proceed to the relevant sections. If all of your water is supplied from a regional/municipal water system, assume that water limitations are not a concern, and proceed to Storage Module. Demand Irrigations Calculated See Groundwater Sources Complete this section if you have a groundwater source. 1) is of water you can What the total volume withdraw from your wells annually? (i.e. well capacity) Farm Info 2) Do you have a Well Log? Yes No Farm Info Box 2 Source 13) Grade land to prevent ponding. Drainage Ref #7 FARM WATER PLANNING TOOLKIT Page 4 of 41 14) Maintain drainage ditches Drainage Ref #7 & 14 15) Invasive species management FARM WATER PLANNING TOOLKIT Page 19 of 41 FARM WATER PLANNING TOOLKIT Page 37 of 41

7 Farm Water Planning Toolkit 7 Toolkit Scope and Structure

8 Piloting 8 Delivery Approach 2-3 hour farm visit Facilitated kitchen table conversation Field review Short follow-up discussion Preparation Interview Field Review Report Follow- Up

9 1. Background Pilot Sites 9 Pilot Site Most farmland is in the east

10 Piloting 10 Fall 14 Spring 15 9 pilots, October February Reporting back to producers Final Report June 2015

11 Piloting Sample Size 6.4% of Total, 9.4% of Irrigated Cropland 7, AGRICULTURE WATER DEMAND MODEL Report for the Cowichan Valley Regional District 6,000 5,000 4,000 Total Irrigated June ,000 2,000 1,000 - CVRD Total (Agricultural Water Demand Model) Farm Water Planning Pilot Land in Cultivation (ha)

12 Piloting 12 Sample Breakdown 6, CVRD Total (Agricultural Water Demand Model) Farm Water Planning Pilot Irrigated Farm Water Planning Pilot Dryland Crop Area (ha) Tree fruits, grapes, berries Forage Vegetables Other* *Greenhouse, nursery, floriculture, turf farm, sweet corn, cropland in transition

13 What Have We Learned So Far? 13 K.I.S.S. Official sources vs. reality No water use data Farm water balance: ±30-50%? Diversity breeds complexity Wide range of water situations Needs vary by farm type the toolkit is a springboard for a conversation

14 What Have We Learned So Far? 14 Actual Water Use vs. Theoretical Need Annual Water Use Intensity (mm) All cultivated land, All cultivated land, Forage, Forage, Irrigated land Irrigated Forage All cultivated land All forage Average crop water demand (Demand Model) Estimated average water use intensity, 2014 (Farm Water Planning Pilot)

15 Are producers using less water than we think they need? 15

16 What Have We Learned So Far? 16 Estimates are uncertain Model estimates maximum demand No actual measurements Sometimes land is cheaper than water It s cheaper to move hay than water

17 What Have We Learned So Far? 17 Water Balance Dry-land Forage No water infrastructure Less labour Higher risk

18 What Have We Learned So Far? 18 Storing Water for Irrigation Infrastructure reduces risk Storage is expensive

19 What Have We Learned So Far? 19 Climate change is just one of the issues Runoff water quality risk Drainage issues need outside help Land use, demographic and macroeconomic changes: bigger risks than climate change? Irrigation assessments worthwhile?

20 What Have We Learned So Far? 20 Can t Manage What You Don t Measure Monitoring and trending builds resiliency: Water usage Pond/groundwater levels Water quality Any observed changes

21 What s Next? 21 Complete the pilot project Simplify the toolkit Water Sustainability Act implementation?

22 Thank Moooo! 22