WATER FOR GENERATIONS

SUMMER UPDATE

2013

Past water challenges and droughts

sparked innovation and cooperation

Stream flow diversions

1890s Drought 1930s Drought

Surface water storage

1950s Drought

Ground water pumping

Nebraska Water Challenges

What everyone wants is:

• Working streams

• Sustainable aquifers

WATER for GENERATIONS

Nebraska Water Challenges

Drought

Environmental

Concerns

80 Water Short

Communities in 2012

Overappropriated

Streams

Groundwater

depletions

Interstate

Water Compacts

Can we again work together

to find innovative solutions

for the future?

From “Economic Impact of the Ability of Nebraska

Agriculture to Irrigate”, a study conducted by Decision

Innovation Solutions, Des Moines, Iowa, November 2012

PROGRESS

REPORT

• Non-profit formed. Board recruited. Support sought.

• Mission: To sustain our water, our economy and our future though a

common sense approach while meeting regulatory needs

2010 The Launch of a new organization

• Producer-Driven Outcomes

• Economic Impact study - by Dr. Eric Thompson, UNL

• Presentations to increase understanding and support

Increase recognition and acceptance of water balance ideas 2011

PROGRESS

REPORT

• Vision: Broad-based collaboration to find and implement solutions to

ensure a legacy of water.

• Goal: To promote sustainable water solutions that also safeguard our

economy and quality of life.

• Water for Generations Demonstration Project

• Water Advisory Board

• First Summer Water Summit

From a start-up to valuable end products and strategies 2012

• Seek grass roots solutions

• Facilitate practical innovation

• Expand understanding and support

• Maximize organizational strengths

From concept to operational, cooperative solutions

2013

Seek

Grass Roots Solutions

From concept to operational, cooperative solutions

2013

Grower Symposium January 2013 – Ogallala, NE

Facilitating learning and sharing:

Grower to Grower

Grower to Vendor

Sharing new information with

and hearing from

forward-thinking leaders

Winter Water Summit January 2013 – Gothenburg, NE

From concept to operational, cooperative solutions

2013

Facilitate

Practical Innovation

2013 Water for Generations “Real Time” Demonstration Project

Testing technologies that

offer real time data on:

• Water the crop is using

• Water being pumped

• Water in soil profile

Weather Stations – Tracking precipitation, relative

humidity, temperature, wind

Moisture Probes Real time reporting of

moisture levels and

movement of water in the soil.

Pumping Data Continuous pumping data on pivots with

flow meters or calculated with pressure

transducers and ultrasonic flow meters.

Compare to power company readings.

Remote Pivot Controllers Transmit real time data to phone,

computer, iPad for 24-7 access

Soil Samples Track nitrogen

movement and how

roots use water in soil

Satellite imagery Match images with

tissue samples.

Possibilities

for watershed

management.

2013 Water for Generations “Real Time” Demonstration Project

Partnering to Test

Promising Real Time

Strategies

.

Natural Resource

Districts Middle Republican NRD

Upper Republican NRD

North Platte NRD

Twin Platte NRD

Equipment Vendors Earth Tec Solutions

Aqua Check

21st Century Equip. (John Deere)

Fontanelle/Aquaview

Winfield Solutions

AgSense

Pessl

Power Companies Midwest Electric Coop

Dawson Public Power

Wheatbelt Public Power

Roosevelt Public Power

McCook Public Power

Southern Public Power

Central NE PPID

Tri-State G & T

NRCS North Platte,

Curtis, Imperial

Crop Consultants Olsen Agricultural Labs

Simplot Soil Builders

Appel Consulting

Johnson Consulting

Collins Consulting

Carter Ag Services

Hodge Consulting

Waitley Consulting

University UNL Panhandle

Research and Extension

Growers 11 pivots from

Holdrege to Mitchell

2013 Water for Generations 30/30 Grower Behavior Study

This study gives growers an opportunity to

experience how variable rate irrigation can be used

to reduce overwatering and energy costs.

Equip pivot with variable

speed control To apply different rates of water

– slow over light soils, faster

over heavy soils.

Map water holding capacity EM mapping of soil densities.

30/30 irrigation prescription Flat rate irrigation on grower sectors.

Variable rate prescription on study sectors.

Apply 10% less water in study sectors.

Live data to

growers

Virtual Optimizer

website

2013 Water for Generations 30/30 Grower Behavior Study

Teaming up to show

Growers a practical

alternative to

overwatering.

17 Growers

in Central and

Eastern Nebraska

2013 Water for Generations Projects In 12 NRD Districts

“Real Time” Project

Grower Behavior Study

2013 Water for Generations Projects What do we envision long term?

Water for Generations Projects explore

practical workability and acceptance

Spread winning solutions over a

large population of producers

Identify promising technologies,

research, strategies

Share results to increase awareness,

understanding and adoption

Quantify watershed impact.

Confirm economic benefits.

From concept to operational, cooperative solutions

2013

Expand

Understanding and Support

Improving Understanding Educational Presentations

In addition to many one-on-one meetings with key leaders and organizations,

we have made presentations to these groups:

• Luncheon for Senators

• Water Round Table, Lincoln

• Nebraska Water Leaders Academy

• Republican River Restoration Partners, Oberlin, KS

• Nebraska Dry Edible Bean Day

• NE Farm Bureau Water Resources Committee meeting

• Lincoln/Dawson Co. Farm Bureau annual meeting

• Nebraska Seed Improvement Assoc. annual meeting

• NE Pivot Manufacturer’s Association board meeting

• Community events hosted by

public power companies

• NRD Board meetings

• Chamber Ag meetings

• Grower Meetings

• Coop Board Retreat

• Rotary and Kiwanis meetings

• Civic organizations

Working toward a better

understanding of the

“water puzzle”

WATER

A Place to Learn Sharing information and ideas

Guest presentations

at NEWBA Board Meetings

A sampling of past presentations: • Drought Response Methods – City of Lincoln Water System

• Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance – Geoff Wickes

• Rule-making Process for Fully Appropriated Streams - NDNR

• Precision Irrigation using Spatial Water Optimization – Bill Marek

• UNL Irrigation Research report – Gary Hergert

• The Economic Cost of Reducing Irrigated Acres – Dr. Eric Thompson

• Improving Nitrogen Efficiency in the Soil – Larry Murphy

• Republican River Basin presentation – Matt Lindburg

• Certified Water Professionals – Role & Technology – Kylen Hunt

Ready access to water information www.nebraskawaterbalance.com

New ways to foster discussion Meeting at your convenience

Customized online presentations/discussions.

Chats with NEWBA Directors

From concept to operational, cooperative solutions

2013

Maximize

Organizational Strategies

Supporting Water for Generations Now two options!

Facilitating and promoting

sustainable water solutions

that safeguard our economy

and way of life

NEWBA

Members with a voice in how to help

ensure a legacy of water

Membership investments are

not tax-deductible

(501c6)

Contributors making practical research and

water education a reality

Laying the foundation for

healthy streams and

sustainable aquifers through

better understanding

Foundation contributions

are tax-deductible

(501c3)

Water Balance Foundation

For more information:

www.nebraskawaterbalance.com

To schedule a presentation:

Lorre McKeone

308-530-4556