Bureau of Reclamation, which assisted in the completion of phase one. In May, the district was notified again it would receive another $300,000 to continue work. Buchanan believes irrigation can play a major role in conserving water, increasing the efficiency of water usage and providing more to the end user. He understands irrigators are not the only users of large amounts of water, but he believes irrigation can draw attention to water conservation. “We have many competing users of water in southwest Oklahoma, as we do in the western states as a whole,” Buchanan said. “These efforts are to try and start to address these issues, and when we become better conservers of water, it points the way and shows other people that we can do it.” According to Buchanan, southwest Oklahoma’s water supply has been low the past three years. Currently, the district’s lake holds about 94,000 acre feet, and when full, it can hold close to 130,000 acre feet. Lugert-Altus Irrigation District bylaws call for 96 cubic feet per second of water to begin irrigation, meaning this minimum amount of water must be requested by farmers across the district before water can
be turned on. The district draws its water from a lake that is about 25 miles north of the designated cropland to be irrigated. With the goal of efficient water usage in mind, people in the district are working together as farmers and neighbors to develop a strong relationship. Producers use the supplemental water source when irrigation benefits the most acres and the most people for a crop at a certain time. Irrigation in southwest Oklahoma historically begins around July 4 and runs until the middle of September. During that time, 46,000 acres are watered with a majority of the acreage devoted to cotton. Buchanan said water conservation should take center stage among Oklahomans and citizens of the western U.S. due to threatening water shortages in the future. Limited supplies of water in the next 30 to 50 years could not only hurt farmers, but also decrease the population of western Oklahoma. Oklahoma’s economic development also would feel the impact of a smaller water supply, providing fewer resources to meet human needs. “It’s incumbent upon not only local entities like ourselves, but the state as a whole, to develop a statewide comprehensive water plan that tells us how much water we have, where it’s at and what quality,” Buchanan said. “That will give us the basis with which we can move forward.” The Lugert-Altus Irrigation District continues to look into new methods of irrigation, and it has begun the process of requesting financial assistance at state and federal levels. Buchanan said By Gail Banzet improved irrigation efficiency would result in increased water availability, but users need to understand that more water does not come without a price. “In order for us to become more conservative to become a better user, it takes capital. There needs to be a trade off of some sort in that a state of Oklahoma or a federal government needs to have the incentives available to the landowner that allows him to be a better user, which then allows more water to be available for everybody else,” Buchanan said. The Lugert-Altus Irrigation District is committed to conserving water while ensuring a valuable water supply to patrons. In fact, the district has decided to tax itself an additional $2 per acre, setting aside these additional funds to be used only for improving its infrastructure. Buchanan said he and members of the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District feel new and efficient irrigation practices could set the tone for water users across Oklahoma and the U.S. Through funding, infrastructure modernization and cooperation between patrons, he said the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District is setting an example of water conservation methods for water districts across the country.
Through effective, new irrigation practices, the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District in southwest Oklahoma is improving the efficiency of agricultural water usage.
Lugert-Altus Irrigation District employees pour concrete for a water measurement device in the Lugert-Altus reservoir’s main canal. The construction took place in the winter of 2005 and was recently completed. The measuring device allows water district employees to specifically track water location at any time.
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