A Southwest Florida Water Management District project will help a Highlands County citrus grower reduce groundwater pumping.
The project involves installing an integrated irrigation system that includes soil moisture sensors connected to automated value controllers at Alpine Grove, which is owned by Running W Citrus, Limited Partnership.
Soil moisture sensors increase irrigation efficiency by only irrigating when water is needed.
According to the Alpine Grove water use permit, the 1,315-acre citrus grove is permitted to use an average of 1,755,900 gallons per day (gpd) for irrigation. Since January 2003, the grove's groundwater usage has averaged at or slightly above the total permitted average daily quantities, but 86 percent below the drought annual average. The high water use is attributed to the prolonged drought the area is experiencing. However, the citrus grower recently changed irrigation methods, which is expected to help reduce ground water use. The grove previously used to use overhead spray irrigation, but now it uses a low-volume system that applies the water to the tree roots.
This project is part of the District's Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) Program, which is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.
The FARMS project is expected to reduce pumping by at least five percent, or about 87,800 gpd. Highlands County is part of a designated water caution area because it is experiencing environmental impacts due to overpumping.
This project is expected to cost $40,000, of which up to $20,000 will be funded by the District's Governing Board, the District's Peace River Basin Board and state appropriations. The remaining will be paid by the farm.
"This combination of technology and best management practices illustrates that cost-effective conservation can be accomplished on a moderate budget," said William Orendorff, the District's FARMS Program manager.
The FARMS Program is jointly funded by state appropriations, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the District's Governing Board and Basin Boards.
The FARMS Program is expected to reduce groundwater pumping by 40 million gallons per day by 2025.