Irrigation
The state of Kansas works continuously with local, state and federal stakeholders to provide incentives to reduce the depletion of groundwater in areas of significant decline. There are two water conservation practices, Water Conveyance Pipeline and Irrigation Water Management, offered from the state of Kansas to reduce depletion of groundwater sources in targeted areas. In addition, the state provides financial assistance to landowners to permanently retire their water rights in selected areas as determined by the state.
Water Conveyance Pipeline
A conveyance pipeline consists of a pipeline and components installed in an irrigation system to accommodate the installation of a sprinkler irrigation system. The function of this practice is to convert flood irrigation systems to sprinkler irrigation systems. The conservation objective of this pipeline practice is to utilize low drift nozzles or low pressure, below canopy application systems which will yield a reduction in water usage while maintaining tolerable soil erosion levels.
Irrigation Water Management
This practice involves the determination and control of the rate, amount, and timing of irrigation water application in a planned and efficient manner. It requires evapotranspiration (ET) data entered into a computer spreadsheet program used to monitor water balance and schedule irrigation events.
The purpose of this practice is to provide irrigation water management (IWM) awareness and education to irrigators to encourage adoption of irrigation scheduling technologies. Additional goals are to effectively use available irrigation water supply in managing and controlling the moisture environment of crops and to promote less consumptive use. This is accomplished by avoiding unnecessary over-pumping and controlling undesirable water loss. This practice also aims to minimize soil erosion and loss of plant nutrients and to protect water quality.
Click here for information on the irrigation incentive programs offered by the Division of Conservation, Kansas Department of Agriculture.
For more information on these practices or to apply for state financial assistance, please contact your county conservation district.
