Water Management Planning for Agricultural Irrigation Water Laws and Policy Water Laws and Policy Geospatial Applications Geospatial Applications Donn Rodekohr James Hairston Auburn University

Facets of Irrigation in Alabama Alabama has abundant water resources Alabama has abundant water resources More navigable river miles than any other state More navigable river miles than any other state Averages 22 of runoff each year Averages 22 of runoff each year Tallapoosa River has richest biodiversity of any stream in the US Tallapoosa River has richest biodiversity of any stream in the US Alabama has a long agricultural tradition Alabama has a long agricultural tradition But… But… Alabama ranks near the bottom in terms of irrigable acres that are irrigated Alabama ranks near the bottom in terms of irrigable acres that are irrigated Mississippi is ranked higher Mississippi is ranked higher

Aspects of Irrigation in Alabama Why hasnt irrigation development occurred? Why hasnt irrigation development occurred? No perceived need No perceived need average annual rainfall average annual rainfall But… But… The rain doesnt always fall when or where it is needed The rain doesnt always fall when or where it is needed

Aspects of Irrigation in Alabama Why hasnt irrigation development occurred? Why hasnt irrigation development occurred? No perceived need No perceived need No perceived ROI No perceived ROI Curtis and Tyson both showed profitability Curtis and Tyson both showed profitability But … But … Infrastructure and initiation dues are high Infrastructure and initiation dues are high But … But … Georgia irrigation developed contradicting UGA economic analysis Georgia irrigation developed contradicting UGA economic analysis

Aspects of Irrigation in Alabama Why hasnt irrigation development occurred? Why hasnt irrigation development occurred? No perceived need No perceived need No perceived ROI No perceived ROI Limited or No access to water Limited or No access to water Physical constraints Physical constraints Economic constraints Economic constraints Political constraints Political constraints

Constraints on Access to Water Physical Physical Most, nearly all, small scale irrigation development in the West used Groundwater as the source – Land owner projects. Most, nearly all, small scale irrigation development in the West used Groundwater as the source – Land owner projects. Alabama abundance is surface water supplies Alabama abundance is surface water supplies Most, nearly all, large scale irrigation development in the West used Surface water as the source – Government projects. Most, nearly all, large scale irrigation development in the West used Surface water as the source – Government projects. Much of Alabamas prime farm land is not riparian Much of Alabamas prime farm land is not riparian

Constraints on Access to Water Physical Physical Economic Economic Groundwater in Alabama is usually deep Groundwater in Alabama is usually deep Groundwater in Alabama is sometimes poor quality Groundwater in Alabama is sometimes poor quality Drilling costs are high Drilling costs are high Pumping costs are high Pumping costs are high

Constraints on Access to Water Physical Physical Economic Economic Political Political Alabama is a Riparian Doctrine state Alabama is a Riparian Doctrine state

Surface Water Management Policy Overview of Two Doctrines Overview of Two Doctrines Riparian Riparian Prior Appropriation Prior Appropriation 100 th Meridian

Riparian Doctrine Eastern or English Doctrine Eastern or English Doctrine Based upon Land ownership Based upon Land ownership Predicated upon water abundance Predicated upon water abundance Regulation initiated by complaint Regulation initiated by complaint Monitoring and measurement of water is post- adjudication Monitoring and measurement of water is post- adjudication

Riparian Doctrine No harm No Foul Harm Foul!

Western Doctrine Colorado or Prior Appropriation Doctrine Colorado or Prior Appropriation Doctrine Based upon the State owning the water regardless of who owns the land Based upon the State owning the water regardless of who owns the land Predicated upon water scarcity Predicated upon water scarcity Regulation initiated by administration Regulation initiated by administration First in time is first in right First in time is first in right Monitoring and measurement is apriori Monitoring and measurement is apriori

Western Doctrine No harm No Foul No harmFoul! Harm No Foul HarmFoul!

Geographic Division - Definitions West Conservation: Conservation: Highest and best use Highest and best use Maintain or improve efficiency Maintain or improve efficiency East Conservation: Preservation Maintain or improve quality 100 th Meridian

Geographic Division – Soil Resources West Conversion of marginal land to production Conversion of marginal land to production Surface Erosion Surface Erosion Groundwater degradation Groundwater degradation East Conversion of prime farm land to other uses Forest Urban 100 th Meridian

Geographic Division – Surface Water Resources 100 th Meridian West Designated for economic development Designated for economic development Power Power Agriculture Agriculture East Designated as transportation vectors Move goods upstream Move wastes downstream

100 th Meridian Geographic Division – Water Legal Code West Inter-basin transfer Inter-basin transfer It is a way of life It is a way of life Cant live without it Cant live without it Move the commodity to where it can be used Move the commodity to where it can be used East Inter-basin transfer It is illegal Cant think of a good reason to allow it

Feasibility of Irrigation in Alabama Assume the legal constraints of the Riparian Doctrine Assume the legal constraints of the Riparian Doctrine Identify areas most suitable for irrigation Identify areas most suitable for irrigation

Mapping Physical Constraints Topography Topography Soils Soils

Mapping Physical Constraints Water availability Water availability Soils interface Soils interface Moisture holding capacity Moisture holding capacity In Alabama, we are only a week away from drought. Dr. Charles Mitchell In Alabama, we are only a week away from drought. Dr. Charles Mitchell

Geospatial Analysis for Planning Identify prime farm land adjacent to a stream Identify prime farm land adjacent to a stream Current Doctrine Current Doctrine Land ownership Land ownership Limit by topography Limit by topography Identify prime farm land and access to water. Identify prime farm land and access to water. PFL isolated from water PFL isolated from water

Geospatial Analysis for Planning Identify prime farm land and access to water Identify prime farm land and access to water

Synopsis of National Feasibility Water is THE ingredient constraining development Water is THE ingredient constraining development Soils are the wild-card for agricultural production Soils are the wild-card for agricultural production Water policy has enabled economic returns for agriculture Water policy has enabled economic returns for agriculture Scale of irrigation development is dependent upon source Scale of irrigation development is dependent upon source Individual scale – groundwater Individual scale – groundwater Regional scale – surface water Regional scale – surface water Map of groundwater contamination = Map of irrigation development Map of groundwater contamination = Map of irrigation development

Synopsis of Feasibility in Alabama Physical constraints Physical constraints 1998 NRI data ~ 176,000 acres irrigated 1998 NRI data ~ 176,000 acres irrigated ~ 6 million acres potentially suitable for irrigation ~ 6 million acres potentially suitable for irrigation Water availability Water availability Doctrine constrains access Doctrine constrains access Volume of water that is available is unclear Volume of water that is available is unclear Water wars are possible Water wars are possible Economic viability Economic viability ROI is proven -- $200 / ac ROI is proven -- $200 / ac Scale of development is driven by the source Scale of development is driven by the source

Direction for Future Analysis Policy Analysis Policy Analysis Governors Comprehensive Water Plan – Policy alternatives Governors Comprehensive Water Plan – Policy alternatives Riparian Doctrine – Disbenefits of small scale Riparian Doctrine – Disbenefits of small scale Economic feasibility – Infrequently used infrastructure bothers bureaucrats Economic feasibility – Infrequently used infrastructure bothers bureaucrats Key Questions to be answered Key Questions to be answered Is there water available? Is there water available? Where are the areas in Alabama where irrigation is most feasible? Where are the areas in Alabama where irrigation is most feasible? What is the possible ROI in these areas? What is the possible ROI in these areas? Landowner investments (small scale) Landowner investments (small scale) Governmental investments (large(r) scale) Governmental investments (large(r) scale) Is irrigation on Black Belt soils possible? Is irrigation on Black Belt soils possible? How can we manage irrigation to avoid environmental degradation? How can we manage irrigation to avoid environmental degradation?