A look at flood irrigation in the Colorado River Basin states

Flood irrigation, also known as surface irrigation, continues to be a prevalent agricultural practice within the states of the Colorado River Basin, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. This traditional method involves water flow over the field’s surface, allowing it to seep into the soil. The following is an exploration of how flood irrigation is employed across these states, highlighting its significance, the types of crops it supports, and the percentage of agricultural land it encompasses:

Arizona

• Flood Irrigation Utilization: In Arizona, flood irrigation represents approximately 28% of the state’s irrigated acres.
• Crops: This method is predominantly applied to alfalfa, cotton, wheat, and vegetables such as lettuce and melons.

California

• Flood Irrigation Utilization: About 16% of California’s irrigated cropland benefits from flood irrigation.
• Crops: Key crops include rice, cotton, alfalfa, and certain vegetables.

Colorado

• Flood Irrigation Utilization: Colorado services around 20% of its irrigated acres through flood or furrow irrigation techniques.
• Crops: Alfalfa, grains, and select vegetables are the primary beneficiaries.

Nevada

• Flood Irrigation Utilization: Nevada’s use of flood irrigation is relatively minimal, constrained by the limited agricultural land available.

New Mexico

• Flood Irrigation Utilization: In New Mexico, approximately 35% of irrigated acres employ flood or furrow irrigation.
• Crops: This includes alfalfa, grains, vegetables, and some fruits.

Utah

• Flood Irrigation Utilization: Utah utilizes flood irrigation for around 30% of its irrigated acres.
• Crops: Commonly irrigated crops are alfalfa, grains, and certain vegetables.

Wyoming

• Flood Irrigation Utilization: Wyoming has the highest usage, with about 50% of its irrigated acres using flood irrigation.
• Crops: This includes crops like alfalfa, grains, and various vegetables.

While flood irrigation remains extensively used, particularly for crops with lower economic value, such as alfalfa and grains, there is a noticeable shift towards more water-efficient methods across these states, including sprinkler and drip irrigation. Despite this trend, flood irrigation continues to be an economically viable option for specific crops and areas.

Citations:

1. Flood Irrigation: Friend or Foe? – CA Farm Trust
2. Modern Management of Centennial Furrow Irrigation – Agrivi Blog
3. What is Flood Irrigation? – TWL Irrigation
4. Flood Irrigation vs. Center Pivot Irrigation – Valley Irrigation Blog
5. Irrigation Methods – MIT
6. Farmers Use Drip Irrigation to Save Water – Water Calculator