The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD), alongside the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), are currently conducting a collaborative bistate groundwater study in the Walla Walla Basin. The study goal is to produce a comprehensive understanding of the bistate groundwater system that will enable holistic water management decisions. This includes developing a description of groundwater interactions between the various aquifers and surface water.
Groundwater serves as an important source of water in agricultural areas, especially where surface water may be limited. Accurate water measurements help assess availability, predict potential shortages, and develop effective water management plans.
Challenge
Part of understanding and managing water resources is researching and documenting the groundwater flow system, how it is recharged, and how it interacts with surface water. Improved understanding of groundwater allows water managers to make science based decisions regarding the long-term, sustainable use of the resource by agricultural, municipal, commercial, domestic, and other users.
For agriculture, accurately measuring on farm water deliveries using a flowmeter can help optimize irrigation practices. By monitoring flows, farmers can make informed decisions on when and how much water to apply, ensuring efficient water use and minimizing waste.
Opportunity
The team at the Oregon Water Resources Department reached out to the team at SoundWater to determine the best ultrasonic flowmeter option. They determined the Cypress Ultrasonic Flowmeter with the Solar Power System met all their requirements.
Key benefits
Installation is simple and can be installed on the outside of the pipe.
Easy to deploy without power using the solar panel option
Access to data quickly, set up takes just a few minutes
Reusable; Can be redeployed to new locations when needed
Outcomes
The Oregon Water Resources Department currently has 14 Cypress Ultrasonic Flowmeters deployed in the Walla Walla Basin. The study team will use the flowmeter data in combination with evapotranspiration data to accurately estimate irrigation efficiency and groundwater recharge. Since the Cypress flowmeters are easy to install on the outside of the pipe, the Oregon Water Resources Department will continue to use this equipment in other areas throughout the Basin to gather a larger statistical sampling area.
About Oregon Water Resources Department
The Department is charged with implementing Oregon’s water allocation and distribution laws. The management of Oregon’s water resources requires expertise in several areas to understand water supplies, issue rights to use water, manage those rights, and work to address future instream and out-of-stream water needs. Learn more here.
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