The Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia (IIABC), with funding from the National Water Supply Expansion Program, has developed a new agriculture irrigation scheduling calculator. The calculator will determine an irrigation schedule for all types of agricultural irrigation systems and crop types.
The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) was instituted in 1970 through a collaboration of the three Okanagan regional districts to provide leadership on water issues that span the entire valley – recognizing the need to work together to protect our common resources.
The Partnershipn Committee on Agriculture and the Environment provides a single-window approach for consultation on enviornmental issues that affect farmers and agriculture. The Partnership Committee provides an opportunity for local government representatives to meet face to face with the people who initiate policies and legislation that directly affect farmers.
Within the next 10 to 15 years it is projected that the available water in the Okanagan Basin will be fully allocated. At the same time, agricultural development is also expected to increase, with potential growth in the grape and wine sector leading the say.
The City of Kelowna is among the most proactive municiplaities in British Columbia with respect to water conservation with its WaterSmart program.
UBC Okanagan is a partner in the NOGWCA project. This is a three year study funded by the Canada-British Columbia Water Supply Expansion program made available through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
The Agriculture & Water community-of-interest is the web-delivery vehicle for informing British Columbians of agriculture and water issues in the province.
The Partnership Committee supports a growing and developing agriculture industry that is environmentally and economically sustainable
The Okanagan Valley is situated in the south central region of British Columbia, a region that is well known for orchards, vineyards and a climate that is often considered a semi desert in the southern portion of the valley. The South East Kelowna Irrigation District (SEKID) is located in the center of the valley and was faced with water management problems in the early 1990’s. The district decided to implement a demand management strategy in 1995 to help improve their capability to manage their water resource during times of drought. The strategy included the installation of meters for all agricultural and new domestic users, the implementation of an irrigation scheduling demonstration program and the development of a data management and water use reporting program.
