
Why was I contacted by AgWIP?
You were contacted by AgWIP because your address is associated with a water use permit in either eastern Colorado or Kansas.
Why is AgWIP focusing on Colorado and Kansas?
Both states have many farmers with metered agricultural withdrawals. In addition, researchers in the two states have been collaborating on water management, a collaboration that makes the program possible.
Why is AgWIP focusing on Colorado and Kansas?
Both states have many farmers with metered agricultural withdrawals. In addition, researchers in the two states have been collaborating on water management, a collaboration that makes the program possible.
How were my meters selected?
Water right and well numbers were matched to addresses based on state records. We provided information for meters that reported water use greater than at least 5 percent of users in their Groundwater Management District (Colorado) or county (Kansas). For addresses that had more than three meters attributed to them, we selected the three meters that recently have used the most water. Space constraints of the mailing prevent us from providing information on more than three meters. We assumed that meters that used the most water are the most relevant ones for your operation.
Which wells or meters are considered my “neighbors”?
Your “neighbors” consist of the other metered water withdrawals in your region. In Kansas, a meter’s region is determined by the county in which it is located. In Colorado, a well’s region is determined by its Groundwater Management District (GWMD). For individuals that own wells or meters in multiple counties or GWMDs, neighbors are determined by the county or GWMD that contains the largest proportion of their wells or meters.
Why is AgWIP focusing on Colorado and Kansas?
Both states have many farmers with metered agricultural withdrawals. In addition, researchers in the two states have been collaborating on water management, a collaboration that makes the program possible.
How is the 20th percentile well/meter in my area determined?
The figure in your AgWIP mailer compares the water use from your meter(s) to the water use recorded by the 20th percentile meter in your county or GWMD. 20 percent of the meters recorded less water use than the 20th percentile and thus 80% of the meters recorded more water use than the 20th percentile.
Why is AgWIP focuWhy doesn’t the information for Colorado account for the amount of land that is irrigated with a given meter or the crop that is grown?
We understand that the water use recorded by a given meter depends on the amount of land that is irrigated and the type of crop that is grown. We would like to be able to provide comparisons of water use per acre for specific crops, but data limitations prevent us from doing so in an accurate way. We hope to be able to offer that more tailored information in the future.
We apologize if any of the information about water use provided on your mailer seems inaccurate. We have used the best information available to identify individuals with specific meters and wells. There are no negative implications to you if the information is not correct, but you may want to check state records to verify your reported water use.
What if I have meters in multiple GWMDs or counties?
If you have meters in multiple GWMDs or county, your neighbors are determined by the GWMD or county that contains the majority of your meters. The mailer then compares your water use to water use by wells and meters within this GWMD or county.
What if I rent my fields to someone else?
If you rent your irrigated land and are not involved with irrigation or cropping decisions, then please share the information provided with the producer(s) that are renting from you as it may be helpful to them.
Are the AgWIP and AgDRIP programs related?
The programs are being run by a common group of researchers and both aim to improve water management. However, none of the information collected from the AgDRIP program was used to generate the information on the AgWIP mailers.
Will AgWIP contact me again in the future?
We are currently looking to secure funding that would enable us to continue and improve the program over time.