Dos Rios Ranch SB88 Compliance and Crop Planning Analysis

Client: Lundberg Family Farms

Funder: Private

Location: Dos Rios Ranch, Sutter Bypass

Date: 2017 – 2020

In 2017, Davids Engineering (DE) was contracted to specify, install, and certify flow measurement devices at the Dos Rios Ranch in the Sutter Bypass in order to comply with Senate Bill 88 (SB88). Following the successful deployment of flow meters at Dos Rios, DE was subsequently contracted to perform an analysis of irrigation on the ranch to support crop planning. This analysis used a combination of ranch irrigation flow records, pump and infrastructure information, irrigation practices, past cropping details, ranch soil type data, Sacramento River water levels, and DWR projected water year types to develop an estimate of irrigation efficiency and a projection of irrigation supply constraints to support crop planning. DE initially performed the analysis using 2018 data to support 2019 crop planning and later updated and improved the analysis for the 2020 planting season. The final project deliverable was a written summary of the results and analysis and development of a tool that can be used to estimate the crop water use and available supply flow for any projected water year type and can be easily updated with additional flow and planting records to continue refining estimates of irrigation efficiency. In order to complete the flow meter installation and certification and the following analysis of ranch irrigation, DE coordinated with ranch managers and irrigators and became familiar with existing ranch infrastructure, practices, and challenges.

All Projects

Moore Siphon Replacement Project

Dos Rios Ranch SB88 Compliance and Crop Planning Analysis

Hart Ranch On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Improvements

Orland Project Distribution System Modernization

Water Management Plan Compliance Mapping

Agricultural Development Feasibility Assessment

Analysis of Effects of Water Management on Evapotranspiration from Managed Wetlands

Garden Highway Mutual Water Company Water Control Projects

Richvale Irrigation District Phase I Infrastructure Modernization

Joint Water Districts Board SCADA

Sutter Mutual Water Company Modernization Support

Shasta Valley Groundwater Monitoring

Time Series Evapotranspiration and Applied Water Estimates from Remote Sensing

Customer Delivery Measurement Data Collection and Accounting (RemoteTracker Implementation)

SGMA Technical Support Services and Prop 1 Stressed Basin Grant Project

Efficiency Conservation Definite Plan and Conservation Program

Boundary Outflow Measurements

Oakdale Irrigation District Agricultural Water Management Plan

Yuba Water Agency Agricultural Water Managment Plan

Feather River Agricultural Water Management Plan (FRRAWMP)

Colusa Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan Development

Madera and Chowchilla Subbasins Groundwater Sustainability Plans

2022 Verification Project for Madera County GSAs

Little Shasta River Efficiency Study

Mill Creek Flow Measurement Improvements

Kettle Spring Improvement Project

Antelope Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project

Conservation Planning and Operations Decision Support