CSU_Irrigation Innovation Consortium Headquarters_Application

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c o L o Colorado Water Conservation Board Last Updated: June 2020 This project supports the Colorado Water Plan and conforms to the CWP Framework as outlined in Section 9.4. Specifically, we are committed to collaboration, demonstrate sustainability, and establish fiscal and technical feasibility of the project. The proposed project meets the needs of core Water Values described in the Colorado Water Plan (Sec 1, Page 1-6): "Efficient and effective water infrastructure promoting smart land use"and "A strong environment that includes healthy watersheds, rivers and streams, and wildlife". Specifically, the hydraulic improvements made to the site will support research and demonstration that leads to field- level adaption, improving water and energy efficiency through technology development, testing and demonstration. Conversion of surface irrigation systems to more efficient sprinkler and drip irrigation will lead to reduced agricultural runoff to the stream adjacent to IIC HQ. Multiple participants in on-site activities will include irrigators, water districts, irrigation consultants and technicians, students and the public. Furthermore, the project addresses at least two CWP goals in the area of Water Conservation and Reuse, namely"Promote water efficiency ethic throughout Colorado," and "Seek creative options for improving agricultural irrigation conservation and efficiency." (Sec. 6.3, Page 6-59). The project helps achieve these goals by pursuing research and demonstration in Municipal Water Conservation (Sec. 6.3.1, Page 6-61) through experimentation and research into the grass reference ET plots, and also in the area of Agricultural Conservation Efficiency, and Reuse (Sec. 6.3.4, Page 9-91) through the implementation of cutting-edge subsurface drip and a variable rate irrigation center pivot. The nature of these technologies, and the expertise of CSU irrigation faculty working at the site, provides opportunity to investigate the water-energy nexus in an agricultural setting (Sec. 6.3.5, Page 6-109). Considering Colorado's long-term goals for Municipal, Industrial, and Agricultural Infrastructure Projects and Methods (Sec 6.5, Page 6-127), this proposed project will work towards at least one of these goals, by converting the on-site fields from flood to sprinkler and drip irrigation. The project will demonstrate to producers how to "use water efficiently to reduce overall future water needs". Automation and monitoring of canal flow will further allow for the quantification of improvements in farm water use efficiency. IIC HQ lies within the South Platte River Basin. This project supports the South Platte/Metro Basin Roundtable's 2015 Basin Implementation Plan by meeting at least two of the Basin's goals (Page 1-25; https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/SouthPlatteBasinlmplementationPlan- 04172015.pdf). First, in the area of Agriculture (Sec. 1.9.1), this project will "Fully recognize the importance of agriculture to Colorado's future well-being, and support continued success and develop new voluntary measures to sustain irrigated agriculture"by developing, testing, and promoting the most current technologies available for agricultural irrigation. Secondly, it will "develop multipurpose storage, conveyance, system interconnections and other infrastructure projects to take advantage of limited remaining South Platte supplies and enhance water use efficiencies and supply reliability"by increasing water application efficiency through the new drip and center pivot systems and thus alleviating the need for larger water diversions. Furthermore, the installation of automated head gate and canal flow controls will improve water diversion accuracy and allow for the monitoring of conveyance efficiency in the Sand Dike Lateral. Improvements at IIC HQ are considered structural "Ditch and Diversion Improvements", as described in more detail in the statement of work section of this proposal. The greater purpose of the IIC HQ, which under this proposal will gain improvements to its irrigation infrastructure, is to serve as the Colorado- based site for irrigation research. As described above and other sections of this proposal, the IIC applications research will support non-structural goals of SWSI, the CWP and BIPs through improved irrigation efficiency and water conservation; information and data requirements for ATMs, water rights and planning; improved energy use in irrigation water management; irrigation water quality monitoring and management; groundwater management and conjunctive use; outreach and education; and many other goals and objectives of the State of Colorado. CWP Grant Application 16