Water conservation is an important goal for all water users.  Farmers and farm water districts have long practiced water use efficiency programs that result in conservation.  The decision to adopt each practice is based on local factors relating to soil, climate, cropping patterns, finances and other factors.  What is beneficial and works for one farmer or water district may not be suitable for others.  Unlike urban conservation efforts that feature industry-wide water savings from the same clothes washer, there is no single agricultural practice that results in the same savings when employed in different areas of the state.  It is important to recognize this very important fact when considering the potential for increased water use efficiency. 

Plastic lined canals/underground pipelines---Farm water districts line their delivery canals with high density polyethelene liners to reduce seepage into the underground and increase efficiency in delivering water to farmers.  Underground pipelines are also used to deliver water and avoiding evaporation losses.

Micro-irrigation---Micro-irrigation systems vary according to crop water needs.  Some systems utilize hoses that “drip” small drops of water at the plant’s base.  Others use micro-emitters that water a very small area.  Still others place the water supply line under the soil’s surface and water directly to the root zone.  All of the above systems are pressurized and deliver the amount of water needed by the plant.

Recycle---Irrigation water is recycled from one field to the next as farmers recirculate their water.  The water is collected after it travels the length of the first field and then returned to the top of the field or directed to a second field.  Some farmers report up to 14 percent savings in their water use through recirculation efforts.

CIMIS---The California Irrigation Management Information System features more than 120 automated weather stations in California.  Weather data is collected on a minute-by-minute basis and stored in dataloggers that calculate reference evapotranspiration data for crops in the surrounding area.  The resulting information is used to assist farmers in calculating the amount of water their crops require since plants in different regions require different amounts of water.

Soil moisture monitoring---Farmers employ various methods to determine the moisture content of a field’s soil in order to apply the water needed by their crops.  As an example, neutron probes are placed into the soil throughout a field to measure the soil’s moisture. Some farmers utilize a GPS (global positioning satellite) to plot the wet and dry spots within a field which enables a farmer to adjust his irrigation patterns within a single field.

Groundwater recharge---Groundwater recharge basins are constructed by creating shallow ponds to receive water that percolates into the underground.  This form of “banking” allows the water to be withdrawn at a later time when needed.  Some groundwater recharge efforts, such as the Deer Creek Complex in southern Tulare County and the Kern Water Bank west of Bakersfield , also provide habitat to waterfowl and other wildlife during wet years.

SCADA---Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems allow farmers and water districts to control water delivery systems with precision and near-perfect accuracy.  Telemetry access allows the user to remotely control the irrigation system and access data instantly.  Water districts program the amount of water to be delivered to farmers and once that amount is reached, delivery gates are automatically closed.  Farmers use SCADA in much the same way in programming their irrigation systems in delivering the water to the plant.  Excess water through field irrigations or district-controlled delivery systems is all but non-existent where SCADA systems are used.