Georgia Agricultural Metering Program Marjie Dickey Agricultural Metering

AGRICULTURAL WATER WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM Regulatory Timeline 1988 – Law establishes withdrawal permitting for farm

GEORGIA’S AGRICULTURAL WATER REGULATED COMMUNITY • • General farming Foragers Aquaculture Turf/sod producers orchards,

Since 2003, the state has installed over 12, 000 flowmeters throughout the state. A

GEORGIA’S AGRICULTURAL METERING PROGRAM “. . . to obtain clear and accurate information on

METERING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION • • • In 2004, the GA General Assembly passed and

The flowmeters deployed for the Agricultural Metering Program are equipped with readout gauges to

DATA COLLECTED ON METERED SITES • • • Individual Metered Use reading(s) Date of

METERED DATA BENEFITS TO GEORGIA’S WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Percent metered irrigation water use by

Slides: 10

Download presentation

Georgia Agricultural Metering Program Marjie Dickey Agricultural Metering Project Manager Cliff Lewis Agricultural Water Withdrawal Program Manager

AGRICULTURAL WATER WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM Regulatory Timeline 1988 – Law establishes withdrawal permitting for farm uses, first permits issued; function under Water Resources Branch (Water Resources Mgmt. ) 2003 – House Bill 579: Water use meters to be installed by Georgia’s Soil & Water Conservation Commission on irrigation sources after July 1 2003. 2004 – First Agricultural Water Use Meters began being installed. 2008 - 2011 – Completion of Georgia’s First Ever State Water Planning Effort. . The water withdrawal permitting program is a state regulatory process designed to properly manage the water resources of the state and to ensure adequate water supply for human use, agriculture, and industries. There is no federal law associated with the water withdrawal program.

GEORGIA’S AGRICULTURAL WATER REGULATED COMMUNITY • • General farming Foragers Aquaculture Turf/sod producers orchards, tree & ornamental nurseries water supply for farm animals processing of perishable ag products the irrigation of recreational turf AG WATER USERS WITH CAPACITY TO USE 100, 000 GALLONS PER DAY

Since 2003, the state has installed over 12, 000 flowmeters throughout the state. A map of flowmeter installation locations illustrates the widespread implementation of the Agricultural Metering Program.

GEORGIA’S AGRICULTURAL METERING PROGRAM “. . . to obtain clear and accurate information on the patterns and amounts of such use, which information is essential to proper management of water resources by the state and useful to farmers for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of their use of water. ”

METERING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION • • • In 2004, the GA General Assembly passed and the Governor signed HB 579. In December 2016, EPD assumes control of the state’s Agricultural Water Metering Program via Governor’s Executive Order This past legislative session, the GA General Assembly passed and the Governor signed SB 451, codifying EPD’s management & implementation charge for the Ag Water Measurement Program. All flowmeters in the Agricultural Metering Program are read on an annual basis at the completion of the growing season. State of Georgia has also committed to read a sample of meters on a monthly basis.

The flowmeters deployed for the Agricultural Metering Program are equipped with readout gauges to monitor flow rates.

DATA COLLECTED ON METERED SITES • • • Individual Metered Use reading(s) Date of the meter reading Meter Location Coordinates Meter Serial Number Source type for each meter (well or surface water) • Unique identifier of the fields irrigated by each meter • Acres irrigated by each meter • Crop types for the irrigated acres

METERED DATA BENEFITS TO GEORGIA’S WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Percent metered irrigation water use by freshwater source (left) and amount of irrigation water applied using three water resources (right) in the Upper Flint River Basin. This data was obtained as a result of Georgia’s Agricultural Metering Program.