Water Resources and Irrigation
Lydia Tuttle, Mariah Gotz, Kenzie Turk, and Samantha Everett
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Introduction to Irrigation:
Introduction to Irrigation:
Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil through various systems of tubes, pumps, and sprays. Irrigation is usually used in areas where rainfall is irregular or dry times or drought is expected. Irrigation water can come from groundwater, through wells; or, from surface water, through rivers, ponds or lakes. As with any groundwater removal, users of irrigation water need to be careful in not pumping groundwater out of an aquifer faster than it is being recharged. Excessive use or misuse of irrigation systems can lead to environmental problems such as soil erosion, pollution of surface water or ground water, deterioration of water quality, waterlogging, salinization of soils, and depletion of water supply from aquifers.
How does this affect people and the environment?
How does this affect people and the environment?
https://ourworldindata.org/water-use-stress
Global Scale
Global Scale
To your left, you can see a map of data showing the total amount of water withdrawals for agricultural purposes in 2015. (Measured in cubic meters) As you can see, India, China, and the U.S. are the top agricultural water consumers - this is due to increasing populations and increasing food demand. This increased demand means the need for more agricultural land, resulting in the need for more irrigation and more stress on water resources. (Ritchie and Roser, 2017.) Irrigation may also influence climate by altering surface temperatures and the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, both of which are critical components of climate modeling. These factors have an impact on cloud formation and the amount of solar radiation that is either contained within the atmosphere or reflected back into space. Irrigation is currently responsible for about 70% of freshwater withdrawals worldwide, with only about one-half of the water being renewable. (Kelly, 2020.)
https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/irrigation-water-use?qt-science_center_objects=0#
National Scale
National Scale
In 2015, total irrigation withdrawals in the United States accounted for 42% of total freshwater withdrawals and about 63,500 acres were irrigated. Many states rely on agriculture for their economy, and irrigation can be beneficial for crop productivity and growth, however, many practices used are unsustainable. Despite this, it cannot be dismissed that many areas in the nation are water stressed and water scarcity is prominent. Demand for freshwater surpasses the amount naturally available in some areas of the United States. The agriculture sector competes for this limited resource, and withdraws and consumes the most freshwater of any user in the nation. (Gao, 2019.)
*MGD is an abbreviation of Millions of Gallons / Day
https://forloveofwater.org/michigans-ottawa-county-has-a-groundwater-conundrum/
Local Scale
Local Scale
In terms of population, Ottawa County is the fastest growing county in the state. Ottawa County has 4 sources for its water supply - Lake Michigan, inland lakes, a glacial drift aquifer, and a deeper bedrock aquifer. The graph to the left comes from a report from MSU, in which they found that groundwater supply water levels have declined roughly 45 feet. More groundwater is being taken out of the aquifer than is being recharged by rainfall. The lowering of groundwater levels has caused a change in flow patterns within the bedrock aquifer, resulting in increased salinity and higher chloride levels. Allendale has banned new housing developments from using groundwater, and monitoring of groundwater level, quality, and water use are all important for making sustainable future plans. (Otwell, 2020.)
Background Research
Background Research
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/how-we-use-water
https://forloveofwater.org/michigans-ottawa-county-has-a-groundwater-conundrum/
Our Pond Solutions
Our Pond Solutions
Current irrigation practices in agriculture have caused high volumes of groundwater to be withdrawn from Aquifer systems all over the world. According to the EPA, 32 percent of total freshwater usage by humans is used for irrigation. The Groundwater found in aquifers is considered a nonrenewable resource and pumping rates continue to rise as result of high demand for food. The Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) of Grand Valley strives to demonstrate innovative agricultural practices and provide naturally derived food to students and the local community.
Our implementation plan is composed of various elements that will help to reduce the need to draw from the current well located at the Sustainable Agriculture project. Well records provided by the Department of Environmental quality prove that the well at the SAP taps into the reducing aquifer of the Marshall sandstone. The pond would be multipurpose: it will catch runoff and creek overflow to solve current flooding issues, it will be used for irrigation in a much more efficient way, while also providing crucial habitat for wetland and aquatic plants as well as insects, amphibians, and other animals.
Our proposal fits in with the broader vision of the SAP as being the first pond in a system of ponds and wetlands as can be seen in the Growing Grand GVSU Restoration Plan, below. This conceptual design can be found in the SAP Handbook.
Image created by Youssef Darwich.
https://hvfarmscape.org/man-made-ponds
Dual Purpose Pond
Dual Purpose Pond
When developing this pond we want to incorporate as many valued components as possible to benefit the land best. As stated in the article by the Natural Resource Conservation Service on Farm Pond Ecosystems, "Although farm ponds are typically constructed to supply agricultural lands with water for irrigation, livestock watering, or fire control, they can also enhance the aesthetic qualities of a landscape, provide recreational opportunities, and supply habitat for wildlife."
Our pond will focus on three main components: irrigation, hydrology, and habitat. The pond water will be used to irrigate crops, a benzonite clay lining will allow for slow water seepage to recharge aquifer, all while providing a safe habitat for plants, animals, and insects. In order to do so we must monitor the water quality and use aeration. We will implement a beneficial biosystem that will include plants, such as cattails, that draw out harmful chemicals and help with the current water retention problem in the soil.
Monitoring Water Quality
Monitoring Water Quality
According to the University of Massachusetts Horticulture and Crop program, the Ph and alkalinity are two of the most important elements in quality water for irrigation of crops. Ph determines if something is acidic or basic found on a scale of 1.0-14.0. Alkalinity is a measurement in ppm of bicarbonates in the system.
Ph for irrigation should be between 5.0-7.0, or more acidic, while alkalinity should be at 30 to 60 ppm. Road salt and certain fertilizers can increase Ph and acidity levels in our pond. Using a calcium bicarbonate such as lime can help in normalizing both Ph levels and alkalinity. Other monitoring should be done for conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus levels. Information should be kept in a log book that includes data and treatment dates. This could open an opportunity for many students to conduct aqueous related projects.
https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/LTU/Utilities/Watershed-Management/Home-and-Lawn/Fertilizer
Aeration
Aeration
Monitoring the dissolved oxygen levels of the pond is an important to the overall health of the biosystem and water quality. Low oxygen levels can cause fish kills and eutrophication of the pond. Using an aeration system mixes and introduces more dissolved oxygen in the water. Algae is formed from static water that has high levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Although these nutrients in the water are beneficial to crops, too much can be harmful.
https://www.pondtrademag.com/how-to-properly-sell-diffused-aeration-systems/
Tara Kneeshaw Environmental Biogeochemist “Everyone needs to look at ways to be more sustainable, even at a smaller scale like the SAP or in our own homes.” “Constantly reusing local resources maintains a local, sustainable system.”
Beneficial Biosystem
Beneficial Biosystem
This new pond opens up the opportunity for more plant species to thrive. Plants such as cattails, water lilies, and soft rush are great at filtering out heavy metals and all enjoy aquatic environments. These plants are also perfect for the SAP irrigation pond because they enjoy bright sun with little shade, which the SAP can offer.
https://pixels.com/featured/cattails-along-the-pond-donna-kaluzniak.html
https://www.kellogggarden.com/blog/gardening/plants-that-clean-water/
Aquifer Recharge
Aquifer Recharge
Since the soil type at the SAP is for the most part clay, and the SAP has experienced problems with flooding, having a designated area for the water to collect should help with this problem. Additionally, the clay is for the most part impermeable, but still allows for seepage into the groundwater very slowly over time. This will aid in recharging the area's aquifers and prove to be a more sustainable approach.
https://www.hydratelife.org/ensuring-the-availability-of-groundwater-managed-aquifer-recharge-mar/
https://myfarmlife.com/home-garden/install-a-dry-hydrant-for-your-farm-pond/
https://catfishblue.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/pond-pumps/
Irrigation System
Irrigation System
It will take approximately 48,870 gallons of water per day to irrigate the >4.5 acre area of the SAP, accounting for system inefficiencies (e.g., water lost through evaporation when using a sprinkler system). If the SAP irrigates 3x weekly the water needed would equal approximately 146,610 gallons of water per week. In order for the pond to accommodate wildlife it will be built to hold 3x the amount of weekly output, which amounts to 449,451.75 gallons of water. The pond will be roughly 86 ft long, 75 ft wide, and at its deepest 12 ft deep. Shown in the diagram is a simple irrigation system using PVC pipes and a screen to prevent debris being sucked into the intake pipe of the pump. The pump will attach to an inground irrigation system that will provide water to the field via overhead sprinklers on PVC risers. The drip lines currently in the hoop houses will be hooked up to the system and be fed by the irrigation pond.
Implementation Plan
Implementation Plan
A pond of this size will require approximately two weeks from site evaluation to installation to cleanup. The switching of water sources from well to pond and updating the existing irrigation system to be more efficient will take approximately one week.
Timeline
Timeline
Above: Approximate timeline for the installation of the pond and updating the irrigation system
Left: Diagram of proposed pond and updates to the current irrigation system. Blue lines indicate underground irrigation lines. Grey box near the pond indicates where the pump will be. Irrigation lines and pump location will change based on actual site conditions
Budget
Budget
Triple Bottom Line
Triple Bottom Line
People
People
Low effort to maintain
Possible academic uses for students interested in studying water resources on campus
Provides a relaxing environment for students to interact with
Planet
Planet
Ability to capture rainfall, store excess water, and conserve water from other sources
Improving biodiversity and habitats
Recharging groundwater resources
Flood and erosion control
Profit
Profit
Upgrading the irrigation system to be more efficient reduces the amount of water used and the amount of physical labor used to irrigate manually
Considering the SAP uses roughly 2.9 million gallons of water in a growing season, having that water come from a renewable resource is a long-term investment in sustainability.
Works Cited
Works Cited
Admin. “Water Quality: Ph and Alkalinity.” Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, 23 Jan. 2017, https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/water-quality-ph-alkalinity.
Collin Thompson. "Irrigation considerations for the small vegetable farm." Michigan State University Extension, 22 May, 2018, https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/irrigation_considerations_for_the_small_vegetable_farm
“2015 Water Use.” Irrigation Water Use, 2018, www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/irrigation-water-use?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects.
Egle Well Record Retrieval System, https://www.egle.state.mi.us/well-logs/.
Farm Pond Ecosystems - USDA. https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/SC/Farm_Pond_Ecosystems.pdf.
"Homewyse Installation Cost Calculators - 2021" Homewyse. https://www.homewyse.com/services/index.html
“Install a Dry Hydrant for Your Farm Pond.” MyFarmLife.com, https://myfarmlife.com/home-garden/install-a-dry-hydrant-for-your-farm-pond/.
Kelly, Morgan. “Expansion, Environmental Impacts of Irrigation by 2050 Greatly Underestimated.” Princeton University, The Trustees of Princeton University, 5 May 2020, www.princeton.edu/news/2020/05/05/expansion-environmental-impacts-irrigation-2050-greatly-underestimated.
“Man-Made Ponds.” Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program, https://hvfarmscape.org/man-made- ponds.
Mike Price. "Irrigation Fundamentals Part 3, Hydraulic Concepts of Irrigation." Engineering Your Business, Irrigation, Pumps and Water Systems, 18 April 2019, https://waterwelljournal.com/irrigation-fundamentals-3/
Published on March 18th, 2020 by FLOW Editor - Blog Posts. “Michigan's Ottawa County Has a Groundwater Conundrum.” FLOW, 18 Mar. 2020, https://forloveofwater.org/michigans-ottawa-county-has-a-groundwater-conundrum/.
Ritchie, Hannah, and Max Roser. “Water Use and Stress.” Our World in Data, 20 Nov. 2017, ourworldindata.org/water-use-stress.
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