About Us

Our Story

The Water Conservation Management Program (WCMP) was established in 1991, in aneffort to provide technical irrigation water management services, free of charge, to agricultural water users within the Phoenix Active Management Area (AMA) located in the desert of Central Arizona. Cooperation between the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), Agua Fria –New River and Buckeye Valley Natural Resource Conservation Districts (NRCD), the United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Maricopa County Municipal Water Conservation District No. 1 established the framework and funding for the launch of the mobile irrigation laboratory program

To date, the WCMP continues to successfully achieve the water conservation goals of its program supporters and the agriculture community through the guidance and oversight provided by the Buckeye Valley NRCD. ADWR provides annual funding opportunities through a grant process that the Buckeye Valley NRCD applies for to fund the day to day operations of the Water Conservation Management Program.
The WCMP’s irrigation water management services have impacted countless cooperators over the years. At the end of each fiscal year, the WCMP asks program cooperators to evaluate the effectiveness of the program which they estimate saves, on average, over 7,000 acre feet of water or the equivalent of over $325,000 in water cost alone.
The WCMP strives to provide practical and sustainable recommendations to agricultural water users that maximize irrigation efficiency, crop quality and quantity, while saving them money. A sustainable approach to production agriculture in the desert southwest of the United States that continues to prove successful.

Our Services

Irrigation System Evaluations

Our comprehensive irrigation system performance evaluations provide a snapshot of how efficient your irrigation system is performing. Allowing our team to determine practical solutions that maximize the performance of your irrigation system. The evaluation includes an assessment of the field layout, soil characteristics, the conveyance system, the crop being grown and it’s growth stage at the time of the evaluation, as well as a financial break down of the irrigation event.

Technical Irrigation Services

These services pertain to any element of the irrigation system that may impact the effective management of the irrigation system. Technical services may include such things as irrigation scheduling, flow rate measurement, field slope determination, system or field layout consultation, soil characteristics and textures identification, and assistance with applying for enrollment into the AG Best Management Practices.

Who We Are

The Water Conservation Management Program is a state-funded initiative dedicated to helping agricultural producers optimize their irrigation practices and conserve water resources. Established to address the growing challenges of water scarcity and environmental sustainability, our program partners with farmers to implement efficient, modern irrigation techniques that not only save water but also improve crop yields and reduce operational costs.

OUR TEAM

Our dedicated team of water conservation experts is committed to helping agricultural producers optimize irrigation management and sustainable water use. With years of experience and technical expertise, we work together to support efficient water conservation practices for a better future.

HELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES

Arizona Department of Water Resources

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Maricopa County Farm Bureau

University of Arizona College of Agriculture

Arizona Association of Conservation Districts

Arizona Department of Agriculture

Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC)

Arizona Farm Bureau (AZFB)

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