"Reclamation is pleased to partner with the University of Arizona to help design and implement more efficient agricultural water use practices," said Bob Johnson, Reclamation's Lower Colorado Region Director. "Water conservation is crucial to the prudent and economic management of the Southwest's water resources, and can help extend these vital supplies."

The cooperative agreements provide funding for two projects which, together, have a total cost of $80,000. Reclamation will provide $40,000 of this cost, and the University will provide the remainder.

One project - an on-farm water measurement program - will help growers in the District install accurate flow measurement structures in their irrigation systems. The University will work directly with the growers to design water measurement structures and assist with their installation. Reclamation and the District will share the costs of installing the new structures through a separate agreement.

The second project is an on-farm outreach program through which the University will train irrigators on methods that reduce the application of excess water to irrigated lands.

Both projects are scheduled to be complete by August 2006.

The agreements were developed as part of Reclamation's Water Conservation Field Services Program, which actively supports local water conservation efforts and encourages efficient use of water supplies.