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Bridging-the-Headgate
History of the Partnership
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA), and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) initiated the "Bridging-the-Headgate" conservation partnership in 1998. The purpose of the initiative was to create new opportunities for synergism between traditional "on-farm" and "off-farm" water management and conservation assistance programs throughout the seventeen western states. The term "headgate" refers to the device (see image shown above), somewhat like an agricultural "faucet," through which irrigation water is delivered to many farmers throughout the western states. Such deliveries from local irrigation or agricultural water districts typically come to the farm headgate from an "off-farm" water source. The farmer is then responsible for distribution and management of the delivered water among his various fields "on-farm."
The partnership was expanded in 2001 to six organizations and in 2005 to seven federal, state, and local agencies, nonprofit conservation organizations, and private industry. The effort provides an opportunity to ‘Bridge the Headgate’ between traditional ‘on-farm’ and ‘off-farm’ partners and their respective water conservation activities and assistance programs. This partnership seeks to leverage technical resources of existing federal, state, and local water resource programs by working more closely together with natural resource organizations, water resource organizations, and private industry to promote sustainable and efficient use of agricultural water supplies in the 17 Western States. State and local level members and affiliates participate in this partnership and welcome other organizations with similar objectives and goals to join with in this effort.
The members of this partnership include United States Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA), Western States Water Council (WSWC), National Water Resources Association (NWRA), and the Irrigation Association (IA).
Vision
The Partners will work collaboratively to ensure agricultural water supplies are utilized in an efficient and sustainable manner.
Goals
Goals of the Bridging-the-Headgate Partnership are to:
- Continue support of the cooperative partnerships established between Reclamation, NRCS, NACD, and NASCA under the 1998 Bridging-the-Headgate Initiative and include WSWC, NWRA, and the IA in this partnership.
- Increase awareness and understanding among all partners of each group’s mission and goals. Increase collaboration and sharing of federal water management program technical, human, and capitol resources in support of the ‘locally-led’ conservation process at the field level.
- Increase opportunities for collaboration between on-farm conservation assistance programs promoting efficient agricultural water management in the west, within the parameters of western water law.
- Increase partners awareness of, and participation in, the ‘locally-led’ process.
- Develop and implement an annual work plan outlining objectives and activities in support of the partnership.
Current Partners
The Natural Resources Conservation Service
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is the lead federal agency for assisting agricultural producers on private land to plan, implement, and improve ‘on-farm’ irrigation water management in all fifty states and territories.
Through its Conservation Technical Assistance Program, NRCS provides support to local soil and water conservation districts across the nation as those districts fulfill their role in providing local leadership on conservation and natural resource issues.
Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, financial and technical assistance is provided on farm with installation of conservation practices. This program is available within boundaries of BTH project areas and can provide funding to producers for installation of water conservation practices that assist in meeting local water conservation goals
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The National Association of Conservation Districts
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) represents nearly 3,000 local soil and water conservation districts across the nation, and provides national conservation leadership as part of a local, state, federal ‘Conservation Partnership’ with NRCS and NASCA.
Through this partnership, NACD supports local conservation districts in taking the lead role in the ‘locally-led’ conservation process, and provides national leadership on on-farm conservation and natural resource issues. NACD's governing board is made up of representatives from state and local district organizations. Individual conservation districts shape the policies of state associations, who, through membership on the NACD board, establish national policies.
The National Association of State Conservation Agencies
The National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA) represents the state conservation agencies throughout the country that are established under state law to help organize local conservation districts. These member agencies coordinate conservation district activities in their respective states, and provide financial, legal, and administrative assistance in support of local district programs.
While NRCS, NASCA, NACD, and local soil and water conservation districts they serve acknowledge that they each have independent responsibilities, they recognize their dependence on one another for the successful delivery of local conservation programs. Their vision is to provide by working together at the federal, state, and local levels, a productive nation in harmony with a quality environment.
Bureau of Reclamation
Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier in the United States, and the nation's second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits.
Their continuing obligation to irrigation districts, municipalities and hydropower consumers includes using water resources as efficiently as possible. Reclamation initiated a Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP) in 1997 to encourage efficient use of water on federal projects, assist water districts develop and implement effective water conservation programs. Through the WCFSP and Water 2025 Program, Reclamation's contribution to the Partnership mainly lies on the storage and distribution side of the "headgate". Reclamation has committed to provide personnel to co-lead this partnership.
The National Water Resources Association
The National Water Resources Association is a nonprofit federation of state organizations whose membership includes rural water districts, municipal water entities, commercial companies and individuals. As an Association we are concerned with the appropriate management, conservation, and use of water and land resources on a national scope. NWRA works to balance the needs of people and the environment. We have worked closely with the Congress and the Executive Branch for over 50 years, establishing positive relationships with key resource management agencies and departments.
The Western States Water Council
The Western States Water Council is an organization consisting of representatives appointed by the governors of 18 western states. Since its creation, through adoption of a resolution at the Western Governors' Conference in 1965, the Council has strived to fulfill its chartered purposes. The purposes of the Council are: (1) to accomplish effective cooperation among western states in the conservation, development and management of water resources; (2) to maintain vital state prerogatives, while identifying ways to accommodate legitimate federal interests; (3) to provide a forum for the exchange of views, perspectives, and experiences among member states; and (4) to provide analysis of federal and state developments in order to assist member states in evaluating impacts of federal laws and programs and the effectiveness of state laws and policies.
The Irrigation Association
The Mission of the Irrigation Association is to promote efficient and effective water management and be the voice of the irrigation industry worldwide. The IA plays a significant role and provides leadership to: interact with private organizations, governmental agencies and other interested associations in the development of legislation and regulations to properly and appropriately ensure both the availability, quality and accessibility of water supplies for, or affected by, irrigation, and the efficacy of trade policies; deliver authoritative educational programs to increase public awareness of water management issues, provide professional certifications for irrigation practitioners, including those in irrigation-related disciplines, and ensure access to research data pertinent to industry practices and products; represent the diverse parties and interests involved in irrigation as an effective catalyst and umbrella organization for outreach, communication and coordination; and, recommend internationally recognized standards and guidelines dealing with irrigation-related products, engineering applications and practices.
Summary
Conservation program assistance supported by NRCS, NASCA and NACD through local soil and water conservation districts has characteristically been directed at water users' "on-farm" needs. Reclamation and NWRA programs and assistance have been directed toward western water districts (off-farm). Both groups and WSWC and IA support a voluntary, incentive-based approach to the delivery of technical and financial assistance to western water users. Through the "Bridging-the-Headgate" effort Partners hope to find new ways of working together in support of local agricultural water districts and local soil and water conservation districts for the sustained and efficient use of western agricultural water supplies.
State Activity Reports
The following sections in this report represent summaries of recent "Bridging-the-Headgate" activities launched within the seventeen western states. The sections are organized by state, and can be correlated geographically to Reclamation's jurisdictional boundaries (Area Offices) by referring to this map. In addition to a brief description of the collaborative activities at the local level, each section also includes a listing of appropriate contacts in each state for obtaining additional information on Bridging-the-Headgate activities within the state.
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