Cooperative program promotes wise water use
Established in 1986, Colorado's Irrigation Water Management Program helps irrigation well users in eastern Colorado's Ogallala Aquifer to conserve two precious resources: water and energy.
The Y-W Well Testing Association, the working arm of the program, helps producers obtain the information they need to optimize their irrigation systems. The Colorado State Conservation Board administers the association, which is an alliance of the soil and conservation districts in Yuma and Washington counties. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Western, the Colorado OEMC and Water Conservation Board also support the program.
For a flat fee, the association provides services such as well testing, irrigation scheduling and monitoring soil moisture depletion. Because Y-W Well Testing is a state organization, the fees are substantially less than commercial rates. Producers use the data to save money, cut energy and water consumption and improve crops.