This article is part of Loup Lines (Volume 45, No. 8) originally written by ​Alan Bartels, Lower Loup NRD Information & Education Coordinator.

Drought conditions have improved considerably since the August 2023 Loup Lines column from a year ago.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor map released on July 25, 2024, no portion of Nebraska was rated Extreme Drought (D3) or Exceptional Drought (D4). That map showed portions of southwest and western Nebraska in drought ratings including Severe Drought (D2), Moderate Drought (D1), and Abnormally Dry (D0), with the Lower Loup Natural Resources District shown with a drought rating of “None” across the entire district.

It can be easy to become complacent when rains return. The truth is, drought conditions will return, too, and conserving water now makes the lean times a little less so. As a finite natural resource, water conservation should always be common practice during times of feast or famine.

There are many ways to save water. Homeowners can make sure their sprinklers are only watering their lawn or garden and not spraying onto sidewalks, onto the neighbor’s lawn, or into the street.

Automatic underground sprinklers are often allowed to keep chugging according to how they are programmed even when additional water is not needed. “Set it and forget it” is fine until water is being wasted. Properly adjusting and/or shutting off these systems saves precious water, and saves money for residents in terms of utility costs. Overwatering for the sake of a lush lawn doesn’t make sense since grass that is overwatered is also prone to disease.

According to University of Nebraska Extension, irrigating between 5 a.m. and noon results in less water lost to evaporation.

Homeowners and agricultural producers both can save water by watching the weather forecast. I know the weatherman isn’t always right, but when conditions allow, if he says that rain is coming, waiting to water the lawn or fire up the center pivots can save work while also providing water savings and financial benefits.

Conversion from gravity irrigation to sprinkler irrigation is another proven big water saver. “A center pivot is 90% efficient compared to the gravity pipeline, which is only 65% in getting water on the crops,” said Curtis Scheele, a conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Federal funds are available to help producers make the switch. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program that helps agricultural producers in a manner that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, agricultural producers receive financial and technical assistance to implement structural and management conservation practices that optimize environmental benefits on working agricultural land.

EQIP funds are available right now to help producers convert their gravity irrigation systems to pivot irrigation. Contact your local NRCS office to take full advantage of this federal conservation program.   

Agricultural producers should also know that this is only one of many conservation practices that they can receive financial incentives for adopting. The funds are there – apply now.

Being water wise is easy and we should protect every drop. We will need it.