Water Management Tool

Introduction: This worksheet allows you to estimate seasonal irrigation needs, including the amount of water needed per irrigation, per season, and irrigation pumping rates. From these estimates or independently you can also determine the size of potential storage ponds for irrigation.

	Please fill in the boxes below with yourcontact information:
	First Name
	Last Name
	Company/Farm Name
	Street/Mailing Address
	City
	State
	Zip
	E-mail
	Phone	--
A	Please fill in all of the boxes below: Select your answers from the drop down lists. (If you have more than one field that you want to irrigate, complete a new form with data for that field.)
1.	What is the predominate Maine soil (its name) in your area? Select your soil type from the drop down list of Maine soils. Please consult a National Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) representative if you do not know the soil in your area. Alternatively, you can consult a Maine soil map on your own.
		or
	What is the predominate soil type? Though usually specified by the Maine soil name, please enter the soil type.
2.	What crop is to be irrigated? Please pick the closest crop that approximates your own if your crop is not listed
3.	What irrigation scheduling method do you use? Irrigation scheduling is that part of proper irrigation water management involving the decision, when to irrigate and how much water to apply. Two common methods used are SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING and CHECKBOOK.
4.	In what month do you begin irrigation? Please pick the month in which you start irrigating.
5.	In what month do you end irrigation? Please pick the month when you stop irrigating.
6. a.	What irrigation system do you use? Two major catagories exist: drip and overhead. If you use/select a drip system, please fill in the following. If you do not, proceed to the next question
6. b.	**If you use a trickle/drip irrigation system: What is the seed/plant spacing (ft) between crop rows? What is the irrigated /wetted width (ft) within the crop rows?	feet feet
7.	What is the amount of water (in) to be applied per irrigation? Net water applied per irrigation is the water made available to the plant resulting from an irrigation event. Net water is the total water pumped minus any losses due to evaporation, uneven distribution or other losses. It is the amount of water you want to put into the soil	inches
8.	What is the total area (in acres) used by the crop? The total land area in acres that is used by the crop. The specified irrigation system should cover this area for an irrigation event. Remember, this column is for 1 crop field, so if you use 3 big guns for your entire crop, only enter the area covered by 1 big gun	acres
9.	How many irrigation events per season? Irrigation events per season are the total number of times the field will be irrigated in one growing season. An average value is usually used. Typically four irrigation applications can be expected in Maine. More or less applications may be needed depending on the crop and rainfall received during the growing season. If you irrigate continuously, input the number of weeks you irrigate.	events
10. a.	How long (in hours) is each irrigation event? This is how long it takes to do each irrigation. If the irrigation takes multiple days, add up the hours spent irrigating each day and enter the sum	hours
10. b.	What is your emitter flow rate (gph)? The rate in gallons per hour of each emitter on your trickle/drip irrigation system.	gallons per hour
	What is your emitter spacing (inches)? The distance in inches between each emitter on your trickle/drip irrigation system.	inches
11.	How long do you irrigate a day (hours/day)? This is how long in hours you want to irrigate a day.	hours
B	Existing Water Sources - Storage Pond Sizing
1.	How deep (feet) do you want the storage pond? This is the depth at the pond's deepest point.	feet
2.	What is the approximate length (ft) of the storage pond? The length of your storage pond. Enter zero if you do not have a squarish pond.	feet
3.	What is the approximate width (ft) of the storage pond? The length of your storage pond. Enter zero if you do not have a squarish pond.	feet
4.	What is the approximate side-slope (e.g. 2/1) of the storage pond? If you do not know, 2/1 is a typical value. This is the average slope of your pond. It is the ratio of the horizontal to the vertical, and is written as 2/1 for a 2 to 1 slide-slope. If you do not know your slide-slope, 2/1 is a typical value. Enter zero if you do not have a squarish pond.	slope
C	Potential Water Sources (Based on Water Usage)
1.	How deep (feet) do you want the storage pond? Enter zero if you do not want to calculate a potential storage pond. This is the depth at the pond's deepest point. Enter zero here if you do not want to estimate Potential Storage Pond volume.	feet
2.	Estimated cost ($) to move a cubic yard of soil? The cost to move a cubic yard of soil. This is what the estimated total pond construction cost will be based upon	$
3.	Info for Potential Well What is the flow rate (gpm) of the well? Enter zero if you do not want information about a potential well.	gallons/minute

Market and Production Development dIVISION

Water Management Tool

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