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USDA-NRCS <br />Mobile Irrigation Lab <br />■ The USDA -Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) tnvoivemert in the Indian <br />River Lagoon National Estuary Program began in October 1992 as a three part project <br />Including a cooperative river basin study, technical Wince with the construction of <br />chemical mbdng centers, and development of two mobile irrigation labs. The Indian River <br />Lagoon Mobb Irrigation Lab (MIL) Is one activity of the NRCS In support of the Indian <br />River Lagoon National Estuary Program, providing services to agricultural arta urban <br />water users in Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and Martin Counties. <br />■ The Mission of the MIL tears is to evaluate Irrigation systems throughout the Indian River <br />Lagoon basin and to provide Irrigation water manageRnent (IWK plans to Irrigators to <br />improve overall water utilization and reduce off—ske discharges. As the program has <br />developed, more time has been spent on public education regarding irrigation water <br />management. <br />w MIL cooperators receive a written report focusing on four areas: method of evaluation, <br />MIM, irrigation water quality, and observations and moommendatios. The IWM section <br />is further divided into when to irrigate, how tong to imgate, and how often to irrigate, with <br />speciitc schedules based on the irrigation system emission uunifor" (Eli, crop needs, <br />and soil characteristics. Irrigators are encouraged to use IWM tools such as water table <br />observation wets, tensiometers, and the soil feel and appearance method to reduce <br />water and energy use. Foibw-up visits and contacls are made to fcuther assist irrigators <br />with problem arass and to determine actual water savings. <br />INDIAN RIVER COUNTY NpL HISTORICAL REPORT <br />Sime the commencement of the IRL MIL program on the first of October 1992, , <br />448 evaluations of mainly ag tmgatio n systems have been comms on 18,753 acres <br />of land In Indian Fiver County which has resulted in 124,000 acre inches or 3.4 Won <br />gallons of water saved In those slot years. <br />Fha1 Year 1998 NOL Report <br />68 evaluations were made on 935 acres of mainly citrus land. <br />6,233 acre Inches or 169 m[Mon gallons of watcr, was wmW <br />DECEMBER 159 1998 <br />-37- tm IJI/ a, Y• <br />F A E 87 . <br />