1. B E N T O N CONSERVATION DISTRICT

2. Empowering irrigators to manage limited groundwater resources, The Little Rock Creek project. Goals of the project (proposal): Provide the tools and management system that will support agriculture (irrigation) and natural resources (trout). Transfer the tools to others facing emerging environmental issues related to groundwater use.

3. Little Rock Watershed Benton Soil and Water Conservation District

4. Little Rock Lake Excessive nutrients (phosphorus) Little Rock Watershed Impairments Little Rock Creek Lack of coldwater assemblage Benton Soil and Water Conservation District

5. DNR Permitted Pumping – Little Rock Creek Watershed 1988 - 2007

6. Trend in Precipitation 1890 - 2005

7. Trend in Groundwater Levels for Little Rock Creek Watershed Source: DNR Observation Well Program

8. USGS fact sheet FS2013-3001

12. C USTOM FIELD IRRIGATION SCHEDULING VIA WEB C ALIBRATING IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT O UTREACH ON IRRIGATION BMP S I MPROVE I RRIGATION E FFICIENCIES 2 I NCREASE SOIL ORGANIC MATTER I MPROVE SOIL WATER HOLDING CAPACITY R EDUCE RUNOFF AND IRRIGATION DEMANDS R EDUCE I RRIGATION N EEDS 1 C ONSERVATION D ECISION M AKING T OOL C ONSIDERS STREAM FLOW, GROUNDWATER, WATER QUALITY R EAL - TIME CONDITION APPROPRIATE IRRIGATION METHODS I RRIGATOR LED MANAGEMENT 3

13. 1. Reduce Irrigation Needs Soil quality practices for irrigated sandy soil Cover the soil with last years crop (instead of plowing it under), reduce evaporation, increase organic matter and water holding capacity. Cover crops, increase organic matter, improve infiltration (capture more water from mother nature).

14. 2. Improve Irrigation Efficiencies Irrigation System Uniformity Test

15. Irrigation Scheduling is a predictive tool that utilizes factors such as evaporation, plant transpiration and rooting depth to predict when additional moisture will be needed. 2. Improve Irrigation Efficiencies

16. Irrigation Scheduling Assistant Rainfall and irrigation Rain forecast Soil water holding capacity at various depths Evapotranspiration Capacity of the irrigation system Crop type Crop growth stage Current soil moisture 2. Improve Irrigation Efficiencies

17. Relative impact of the well (Well Location) Stream Flow, Water Quality Levels, Groundwater Level Conservation Irrigation Decision Support System Balance of water left from the DNR issued permit 3. Conservation Decision Making Tool

18. Standard conservation measures Additional conservation measures Highest level conservation measures Conservation Irrigation Decision Support System 3. Conservation Decision Making Tool

19. Stakeholder Committee

20. CIDSS criteria Conservation irrigation measures Scheduling Assistant Outreach efforts New technology moving forward

21. Technology Transfer Technology transfer –CIDSS/Scheduling assistant

23. Project partnerPrimary Role Irrigation Association of MN, Farmer Associations, Individual Irrigators Stakeholder committee, outreach, install practices Morrison SWCDAssist irrigators, outreach NRCSSoil quality initiative, installing practices MN Department of AgricultureOutreach, weather stations MN Board of Water and Soil ResourcesFunding for staff, technology transfer MN Department of Natural ResourcesStream and ground water data, fisheries surveys, technical advisor MN Pollution Control AgencyTechnical advisor, outreach University of MinnesotaTechnical advisor, outreach ConsultantDevelop scheduling software and decision support system, technology transfer, outreach LCCMRFunding, outreach Other SWCDs and state agenciesPromote the activities beyond the initial development

24. B E N T O N CONSERVATION DISTRICT Gerry@Soilandwater.org