Water is Utah's number one natural resource
as the second-fastest growing and second driest state nation
people in Utah are looking for ways to preserve water
I have to help our community move away from its current water use patterns
into more sustainable pattern so we can protect our water supply
now for this water shortage drought
situation but even beyond that into the future for generations
we we want to find.... get some sort of
information regarding the water that was being put on and whether it was enough
or not enough never had any idea
we took a look at our water issues and we're first to know that water runs all over the sidewalks
I think they're going to make a lot harder decisions in the future
than we do now about planning for a water and resources.
Utahns stand tall on the shoulders of Pioneer ingenuity
a majority of the irrigation canals in Utah are the same canals that pioneers built
as Utah's population grows and demands for water increase
extension is looking for ways to solve potential water challenges
there is no one solution the salt water sustainability issues
it takes many people collaborating and cooperating
to achieve success like pioneers before us you with you extension is working to
turn water challenges
into water sustainability
researchers at Utah State University look at tree ring growth
to get data that will help predict what precipitation outcomes could be like
in Utah's future scientists can go back five hundred years or more
to see what precipitation levels were like for extended periods of time
the reason behind that is is that by looking
at what we know we can get some ideas
love you were kinda variability we can expect
in the climate system your new tire we deal with drought that is
fortunately something that we can plan for tree-ring research
will help in that regard by how much stored water would be
to be able to get through something like that if we can store that amount of
water then what can we do
to manage our use so that what we do have
will make it through dry period we merely
12 provide as much information to the people who are making these decisions
so that then they can make an informed decision
to irrigate 1.1 million acres of farmland
that is we too personable and but 78 percent at Utah's water is diverted
irrigation for forming you issue extension derives research from
questions farmers have about producing the most
yield with the limited water resources pap love the first down growers
conferences I attended was a
seed oil conference and there in the conference
some questions came up about air geisha safire with that question I was able to
that conduct some research the last few years to
to find out about how much water safflower needs to have a
high-yield and we've been able to consistently get
high-yield around four thousand pounds per acre which compares
to maybe around a thousand pounds per acre on the dry land
miss you extensions objective is to help farmers
use the water more effectively we do that through irrigation scheduling
and irrigation system improvement
good management practices with their gation system
as you talk grows the we need to get more efficient with our
agricultural water use water management analysis
and planning software has been developed through US you extension
to help people assess and change water use with their existing landscapes
so it's the obvious first step to take be a sufficient with the landscapes that
we already have
and it's a tool that can be used by municipalities to
analyze the water use throughout their service area municipalities can identify
through use of water maps locations where there may be capacity to conserve
and then
they can interact with people to try to convince them
to be involved in water conservation programs Utah has the chance
to be how ahead have other western states with what we have going on an
extension
their are no programs like what we have going on here
and other states who have become aware of our programs
are looking at what we're doing with great interest
this is the big tooth Canyon maple it is resistant to drought
and low temperatures the big tooth is needed Utah
but is not use often are lansky you issue extension is working to find
superior selections
up the tree and then educate municipalities and contractors to
develop water sustainable landscapes
to the qualified water-efficient landscaper certification
one sees individuals are certified a those are working for agencies are
better able to use their resources
a big part of water conservation is simply educating people
once they know what they can do to save water
most people or or anxious and willing and able to do it you tons per capita
use about 290 gallons of water per day
70 to 75 percent of that water is used for landscape irrigation
Kelly cope researchers how to improve landscape water use
and then works with the public to implement the research we've been able
to show that
with the use up some climate based irrigation controllers
people managing landscapes can save as much as 40 percent
at the irrigation water they might typically apply I have a direct line
to the public into water users in the state to share the research-based
information that we're generating here US you
they are getting immediate information immediate feedback
and not just immediate but the best research-based
objective information that's out there there is literally nothing
like the extension model for taking the research-based information generated
and getting that out to the citizenry
one way to get information out to citizens is through the water check
program firstly we turn on
sprinklers on and we look for problems broken head
till clearance I Can Has we note column them
the second set is that we conduct what's called the catch Cup
test using is perhaps we can determine how much waters
being applied to the landscape with the cats kept test data
we create a customized watering schedule for the homeowner we
tell them how many days a week they should water had more
most importantly how many minutes to run sprinklers and
a lot of people don't know that they just yes
if we can educate people we can maybe change behavior
and then changing behavior saves water education is fundamental to keep our
best water interests in mind
you issue extension works with schools across the state
to build a better water future for Utah summer my
most impactful work is with kids
a lot is honestly sure giving kids a chance
said experience a river experience the outdoors
sir a new around a little bit since sometime poking around looking at bugs
in
cuz are often they don't do that anymore
are I think what we're doing is opening up children's eyes right now there's so
much sis
technology in so many reasons to be distracted in other ways
but we still have this beautiful beautiful world and
the the clients and understanding that that that helps us
really delved into it and I think that we will see that this makes a difference
over
when I see kids in the future they always thinking
that water testing day
what they remember and everything fine and so
science confining a lot I can as a sign my yearbook and stuff
like your class for Joe find taken anti-science
fine I my help is appreciated
a lot of it is through the collaboration with US you
that we r able to not only
implement our program but develop programs that are meaningful and a
back to and
and address are real issues our goals
in our community a resident a found out about the
water check program and so we jumped on
we bought anything that we could learn
about a using our water
for landscaping we have 11 acres more efficiently
a would be a boon to us and the bottom line what we're paying for water
all that knowledge that comes from US you i think just it it makes people far
more aware
they need to do
the model that use your extension provides not only valuable to the city
Tom but the rest of the nation with unbiased research
community outreach and quick access new fine
you with your extension continues to help build as the scene water future
in New Times
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