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Surface Water Irrigation Can Be a Win-Win for Farmers

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A surface water irrigation reservoir in the Arkansas Delta area. (Photo by Michele Reba, ARS)
A surface water irrigation reservoir in the Arkansas Delta area. 
(Photo by Michele Reba, ARS)

Researchers from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have found that surface water irrigation reservoirs improve groundwater recovery in the heavily stressed Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer in Arkansas.   

Groundwater resources are in decline across many aquifers globally. Water conservation and management strategies are needed as farmers deal with challenging growing conditions during critical harvest periods. Farmers can adopt surface water irrigation from reservoirs to reduce their dependence on groundwater.   

Previously, analyses of actual groundwater level changes in response to surface water irrigation reservoirs use were lacking in the region. In a recent study, ARS scientists used satellite imagery to generate aerial maps of surface water and investigated how depth-to-water measurements in wells changed from 2005 to 2019, coinciding with an expansion of surface water irrigation reservoirs in an Arkansas critical groundwater area.  

“We found depth-to-water in wells decreased corresponding with increased surface water irrigation reservoirs,” said Joshua Blackstock, a postdoctoral researcher at the USDA-ARS Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center in Booneville, AR.   

“Surface water irrigation reservoirs demonstrated utility for reducing groundwater use and enhancing groundwater recovery in the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer. Larger regional adoption of surface water irrigation reservoirs, as shown in this study, also improve regional groundwater recovery.”  

According to Blackstock, the findings are a win-win for both farmers and groundwater conservation. In this regional area, farmers grow important crops like rice, corn, soybean, and cotton. However, they typically deal with heavy rains in the spring and then drought-like conditions in the summer as the growing season moves towards harvest periods. As such, reliance on irrigation is integral to crop growth during summer periods.  

“Adoption of surface water irrigation reservoirs have direct benefits to farmers and producers from the individual farm to regional-scales,” said Blackstock.   

“A dollar saved is a dollar earned. Using on-farm surface water irrigation reservoirs to reduce groundwater pumping costs can help farmers maximize their profits each year.”  

The research was done in collaboration with: 

  • ARS Delta Water Management Research Unit in Jonesboro, AR 

  • ARS Sustainable Water Management Research Unit in Stoneville, MS 

  • The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 

  • The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture – by Jessica Ryan, ARS Office of Communications 

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