Results of the Flint River Water Conservation Program: Center-Pivot Irrigation Improvement

Proceedings of the 2003 Georgia Water Resources Conference, held April 23-24, 2003, at the University of Georgia.The Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) recognizes that Georgia’s vitality relies on our water resources. As agriculture is both a substantial consumer of these resources and the backbone of the state’s economy, agricultural irrigators are obvious partners in water conservation. The GSWCC, with the aid of several cooperating agencies, has piloted an irrigation evaluation and cost-share program that assesses basic performance characteristics of center-pivot irrigation systems that would likely contribute to over-watering cropland. This paper reports the procedure and results of the first year of this pilot program. Focusing cost-share efforts on uniformity of water application and end-gun application, the program aims to eliminate irrigating in excess of crop water-requirements and off-site water application. The program experienced high interest and participation response from eligible counties, with producers and landowners eager to sign up more irrigation systems for assessment and rehabilitation