Enhancing Agricultural Water Resources at Cal

Poly, San Luis ObispoKevin Piper

Director, Agricultural OperationsCollege of Agriculture, Food and Environmental

SciencesJune 17, 2014

CHES Conference, San Diego State University

Topics

• Agricultural Water System Overview• Agricultural Water Management Review• Improvement Plan• Ag Water Usage• Student Involvement• Rainwater Harvesting Project

Farm History

University Archives, Cal Poly

Agricultural Water System Overview

2010 CAFES Ag Water System Evaluation

2011 Stenner Creek Watershed Study 2012 Water Rights Analysis 2013 Initiated Agricultural Water

System Improvement Plan

Agricultural Water Management Review

Components to the plan: Installation of water flow meters Filter station upgrades Installation of efficient sprinklers Installation of micro emitters Repair/replace all the sprinkler pipe Design and Installation of a new pumping station Prioritize and add/replace approx. 9,000 feet of

underground pipeline. Development of a water management system for

irrigation

Ag Water System Improvement Plan

Flow Meters

Filter Systems Upgrades

Screen Filter System

Sand Media Filters

Irrigation

Weather Tec 10-20 & 10-30 Sprinklers

Netafim SuperNet jet

Drip tape

Pump Station

Pump Station Design

Underground Pipeline

Combination of Information: Use of CIMIS for weekly

evapotranspiration (eT) rates Use of irrigation calculator Use of AdCon Telemetry

http://apro.mccrometer.net

Irrigation Water Management System

Use of soil tensiometers

Irrigation Water Management System

Historical Ag Water Use Current Ag Water Use Efficiencies Gained Remaining areas for improved

efficiency

Agricultural Water Usage

To Date: Pump Station Design Construction of the pump station

concrete pad Development of an irrigation scheduling

guide Student Assistant irrigation crew Irrigation system evaluations

Student Involvement

Collaborative Project between Cal Poly, Morro Bay National Estuary Program and the California Conservation Corps

Designed to alleviate water competition between water users and wildlife

Rainwater harvesting to augment water use, reduce pumping of riparian wells, and improve on-site storm water management.

Project went on line Fall of 2013

Rainwater Harvesting Project

Rainwater Harvesting Site

Rainwater Harvesting Collection

Questions?