Duration: 10/01/2013 to 09/30/2014

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

Water quantity/availability and water quality protection are interrelated, high-priority issues throughout the South. A projected 40% increase in population between 2012 and 2050 will dramatically increase competition for and the need to protect, our critical water resources. While agriculture currently accounts for about 80% of consumptive water use nationally and more than 90% in parts of the south and west, demands by the urban and energy sectors are increasing. At the same time, climate change-related impacts such as drought and temperature variability raise concerns about food security, ecosystem health, and water supply. New technologies, best management practice adoption, and improved water policies are needed to meet future water resource challenges. For agriculture, these include developing water-efficient crop varieties and cropping systems, increasing water capture, transitioning to dryland and limited-irrigation strategies, improving water distribution systems and irrigation efficiencies, and developing economic risk assessment tools that enable producers to identify profitable, water-efficient production options. Agriculture also must protect water resources by reducing off-site transport of sediment, nutrients, pesticides, and pathogens. Similar challenges exist for the urban sector to enhance domestic water conservation, improve irrigation efficiency and management, improve landscape design, expand and optimize water reuse, and improve water capture, while at the same time reducing nonpoint source pollution in stormwater runoff. All citizens will be affected by these outcomes and all are stakeholders in achieving long-term water security. From 2000 to 2012, USDA-NIFA provided funding under AREERA Section 406 for a coordinated National Water Program based on a regional structure. This program used an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to address complex water quality and quantity problems and policies. Regions were modeled after the Southern Region Water Planning Committee, first formed by the Southern Region Extension Directors in 1988. With defunding of the 406 program, a Southern Multi-State Coordinating Committee, operating as a SERA, is needed to sustain this long-standing regional effort and fill the gap in water extension, research, and education. The SERA also can link existing networks and research programs that are essential to solve critical water problems. Federal agencies including EPA, USDA-NRCS, ARS, and USGS, Cooperative Extension, Agricultural Experiment Stations, Water Resources Institutes, existing multi-state committees, non-governmental organizations, and state water agencies all have unique roles that should be coordinated. The niche of Land Grant Institution (LGI) water programs should be to foster the integration of university research, teaching, and outreach, while partnering with others to translate science into action. However, an essential component for success is more significant partnerships with USDA-NRCS and ARS. Continuing coordination with 1890 and Hispanic-serving institutions in the region also will be important to create linkages, develop and share resources for underserved audiences, and build capacity within these institutions. The proposed SERA will include representation from all southern region 1862 and 1890 LGIs plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Once formed, the team will identify representatives from sister agencies and other entities that should be engaged to support the effort. The team also will develop specific output and outcome goals that are complementary to the other existing water-related SERAs including SERA003 (IPM), SERA006 (Soil, plant, byproduct, and water analyses), SERA017 (Agricultural phosphorus), and SERA020 (Conservation tillage).

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

1) Conduct an annual committee meeting and facilitate routine communication. Work with the Administrative Advisors to develop the first annual meeting (agenda, location, etc.). Subsequent meetings will be planned and coordinated by an elected chair and vice-chair of the committee. Conduct quarterly (or as needed) teleconferences to coordinate efforts. 2) Prepare a plan of work. First, existing water programs will be inventoried to avoid duplication or overlap. Second, potential new programs will be assembled and prioritized. Finally, a 5-year work plan will be written to identify mechanisms for better coordination and integration of LGI water programs across the South with the goal of achieving greater adoption of research-based methods to conserve and protect water resources. The plan will be finalized in year 1 and revised biennially to maintain relevance. 3) Seek external funding. Teams will be recruited as appropriate to collaborate in the development of multi-state and regional proposals for research, extension, and integrated projects that address priority water resource issues in the South. 4) Coordinate use of internal funding. For selected priority issues, institutions may opt to commit internal funding to participate and achieve specified outcomes. 5) Conduct a biennial regional water conference. Seek external funding through the grant writing effort to organize/conduct the first regional conference in year 2. Appoint a conference subcommittee to coordinate the process with support from the full committee. 6) Develop a regional web-based water resource clearinghouse. Establish a web subcommittee to design a clearinghouse for water resources information and tools. Coordinate with eXtension to minimize duplication. Seek external funding to support development and maintenance. The website will be housed and managed by one of the 1862 LGIs. Begin work in year 1 and complete site development by year 3. 7) Evaluate outputs and impacts. Establish an evaluation subcommittee to ensure that specific goals and milestones are established and met and to coordinate development of progress reports and the final report.

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

The annual meeting will be a venue to share information and resources among committee members that will then be communicated and/or distributed by members to all participating states, territories, and partner entities as appropriate. The biennial conference will serve as a broader opportunity to provide training and share information, resources, and lessons learned. The website will provide a clearinghouse for water-related resources that can be accessed, adapted, and employed by member institutions, partner entities, and citizen stakeholders throughout the region, followed by migration to eXtension as appropriate.

Organization/Governance

Officers will include a chair, vice-chair (records minutes and maintains a current e-mail list of members), and past-chair. Elections will occur at the annual meeting with new officers installed at the conclusion. Committee meetings will be held once per year, with alternate year meetings potentially held in conjunction with the biennial regional conference.

Literature Cited

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

AL, FL, GA, IA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

Mississippi State University