CAMILLA, Ga. - Water conservation hasn't always been a top priority for farmers in this southwest corner of the state. That's because water has been plentiful in the Flint River Basin. But the Southeast has endured several droughts in recent years, and this year, 87% of Georgia is in some stage of drought. The state also is locked in a 2-decade-old water war with Alabama and Florida over two major river basins.
PHOTO GALLERY: Technology saves farm irrigation water and time
So many farmers were willing to listen when the Nature Conservancy, the Department of Agriculture and the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, offered to help them conserve water.
They improved the efficiency of irrigation systems by adding low-pressure nozzles that reduce evaporation loss, and they started using soil moisture monitors that eliminate guesswork about when to water.
A few began using a new computerized system that allows them to spray water onto crops exactly where it's needed without wasting it in bogs or other unplanted areas.
Those efforts are paying off: Since 2003, farmers in southwest Georgia have conserved more than 10 billion gallons of water over 75,000 acres - enough to meet the annual water needs of more than 250,000 people, according to the Flint River Basin Program.
"What's encouraging about what they're doing in Georgia is that it can be duplicated elsewhere," says Doug Toews, national water management engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. "It's been a success, and it's very workable. The impacts are significant."
Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2008-08-12-savewater_N.htm
