Productivity and Efficiency
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, water efficiency is the smart use of our water resources through water-saving technologies and simple steps. Using water efficiently will help ensure reliable water supplies today and for future generations. Topics addressed in this theme provide insights, lessons, and guidance on how diverse stakeholders are working to improve water management and reduce water use.
Productivity and Efficiency Resources
Water Quality Impacts of Agriculture
Published:
July 21, 2006U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural production releases residuals, like sediment and pesticides, that may degrade the quality of water resources and impose costs on water users. Agriculture is the leading source of impairments in the Nation's rivers and lakes and a major source of impairments to estuaries. However,...Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesIrrigation and Water use: Glossary
Published:
October 26, 2004U.S. Department of Agriculture
An overview of agricultural methods, systems, and practices to increase land and water productivity. Several definitions are offered for terms associated with water use and agriculture. Read more
Video: Improving People's Livelihoods with SolutionMUS - Small Livestock
Published:
May 1, 2015Winrock International
Most livelihood activities require water. Productive water services alone increase income and food security but the benefits of this productive water can be solidified and amplified through targeted livelihoods support programs. This video tells the story of Nyakonge, a pastoralist village in...Read more
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Sub-Saharan AfricaVideo: Improving People's Livelihoods with SolutionMUS - Livestock and Gardening
Published:
May 1, 2015Winrock International
Most livelihood activities require water. Productive water services alone increase income and food security but the benefits of this productive water can be solidified and amplified through targeted livelihoods support programs. This video tells the story of Peter Mbuya, a poultry and goat farmer...Read more
Water Quality Index for Runoff Water from Agricultural Fields (WQIag)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Water Quality Index for Runoff from Agricultural Fields (WQI) is currently being developed by the USDA/NRCS-WNTSC National Water Quality/Quantity Team in Portland, Oregon. The purpose/benefits of this tool include: comparative assessment over time & space, no substitute for monitoring/...Read more
Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX) model was developed for use in whole farm/small watershed management. The model was constructed to evaluate various land management strategies considering sustainability, erosion (wind, sheet, and channel), economics, water supply and quality,...Read more
Soil and Water Assessment Tool
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a public domain model jointly developed by USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, part of The Texas A&M University System. SWAT is a small watershed to river basin-scale model to simulate the quality and...Read more
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GlobalAgricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Model
U.S. Department of Agriculture
AGNPS is a tool for use in evaluating the effect of management decisions impacting water, sediment and chemical loadings within a watershed system.
The term "AGNPS" now refers to the system of modeling components instead of the single event AGNPS, which was discontinued in the mid-1990...Read more
Fish Crossing: Tool for Designing Culverts for Fish Passages
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Pronounced "Fish Crossing" --
This software is intended to assist engineers, hydrologists, and fish biologists in the evaluation and design of culverts for fish passage. It is free and available for download. Version 3 of FishXing is in its final beta form...Read more
Water and Energy Nexus Research:Summary & Recommendations
Published:
August 1, 2013Alliance for Water Efficiency
This webinar provides new information on the Water-Energy Nexus, an issue that is more important than ever and increasingly drawing national attention in the wake of President Obama's commitment to more sustainable resource management. AWE and ACEEE's related report reveals the gaps in...Read more
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