CO-LOCATING IRRIGATION AND SOLAR POWER INFRASTRUCTURE TO BOLSTER FRESHWATER SUSTAINABILITY IN A SEMI-ARID AGRICULTURAL REGION

To support our long-term, follow-on goal of leveraging solar power to improve irrigation water sustainability while promoting decarbonization in the semi-arid Rio Grande Valley, we set four specific aims for this Seed Grant:Consolidate data on irrigation storage and conveyance systems.Assess current water losses from uncovered irrigation storage and conveyance systems.Evaluate the water quality of uncovered irrigation storage and conveyance systems.Determine opportunities and challenges for co-locating solar power and irrigation infrastructure.