Agricultural Water Optimization Efforts Showcased at End-of-Summer Excursion

Recently, Utah Division of Water Rights participated in an end-of-summer Water Optimization Tour of the Lower Bear River sponsored by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food .?

During the tour, we were able to show examples of water measurement and data collection devices.?

There are approximately 100 different pumps on the Lower Bear with measurement and telemetry installed on each. Maintenance on this system is a large task, and typically, is ongoing throughout the irrigation season. On the tour, Aaron Hunt (who is a 20-year division veteran and the engineer manager over automation and measurement) shared that for years he was managing maintenance completely alone and on a shoestring budget. Thanks to increased staffing in automation/measurement, the team has been able to complete the majority of the necessary Lower Bear site visits in a short two-week period. These efforts ultimately provide better data and a well-managed distribution system.

Tour participants were also able to see examples of improved flood irrigation systems being used by Tuleview Farms as well as automation that is being used by Bear River Canal Co Inc .?

Thank you to Hannah Freeze and Brian Christensen, with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food , for setting up the event.?

Tour attendees included representatives from Utah Department of Agriculture and Food , the Utah Division of Water Resources , Utah State University , Colorado River Authority of Utah , and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) as well as a number of Utah Legislators, Utah water district leaders, private landowners and individual farmers.