2005-06 Deliverables
Task 1 Extension
Principal Investigator(s): Ron Lacewell, Ed Rister, Allen Sturdivant, Megan Stubbs
We mutually agree for Ron Lacewell, Ed Rister, Allen Sturdivant, and Megan Stubbs to deliver the following during the period of May 15, 2005 to May 14, 2006 using funds from the Rio Grande Basin Initiative. Note some efforts associated with Tasks 1, 3 and 4 (i.e., Irrigation District Studies, Institutional Incentives, and On-Farm Irrigation) are closely integrated between Extension and Research, and are thus reported on both the Extension and Research MOAs.
- Continue to collaborate with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to complete a joint publication which will serve as a guide on engineering considerations (e.g., selection criteria, project costs, etc.) and their economic counterpart (i.e., life-cycle costs) for alternative rehabilitative systems for waterways, grouped by type (i.e., shotcrete, liners, protected liners, and pipe). In lieu of a customized economic and financial analysis/report with RGIDECON©, this information will provide irrigation district (ID) managers and consulting engineers a useful tool, particularly in the conceptual and planning stages of a rehabilitative effort, in a useful, handbook-style document of a matrix of 640 combinations of 2 conditional scenarios, 8 wetted perimeters, and 5 gross water loss levels across 8 rehabilitative systems.
- Collaborate with select ID managers to develop a spreadsheet program which will allow ID managers to understand likely outcomes to IDs' changing flat rates and irrigation rates for water-delivery services. Appropriate accounting, economic and institutional factors will be incorporated. All reports to be published through the TWRI as technical reports subject to approval by cooperating IDs.
- Continue collaborative efforts with the USBR by providing scoring, supporting input and justification for scoring projects (prioritizing) for funding during each USBR grouping. This will be done twice during the project period.
- Present a contributed paper at the University Council of Water Resource (UCOWR) Conference on River and Lake Restoration: Changing Landscapes in Portland, Maine; reporting on "Estimated Benefits from Restoration of IBWC Rio Grande Flood-Control Projects" (July 2005).
- Collaborate with ID managers, consulting engineers, USBR and Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to complete the originally-intended applications of RGIDECON© towards federally-authorized projects. Also, consult with USBR regarding appropriate future uses of RGIDECON© as USBR continues to advise of their continued interest in RGIDECON© towards a possible additional 19 authorized projects in the LRGV.
- Continue collaborative efforts to demonstrate accuracy of methodology of RGIDECON© and its appropriateness for use in evaluating/ranking alternative rehabilitation projects with different characteristics (e.g., longevity, costs, water savings, etc.). Reports will be published through the TWRI as completed.
- To ensure collaboration and cooperation between projects the RGBI economics team will, as requested, provide economic analysis of BMPs and other issues associated with the TWDB funded project in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.