Survey of Irrigation Methods in California

This report discusses a statewide survey of irrigation methods conducted in California during 2002. The purpose of the study was to collect information on irrigation methods to determine which methods were used by growers to irrigate their crops in 2001. Reliable information on irrigation methods is an important factor for planning future water demand by agriculture irrigation based on trends. To conduct the survey, one-page survey form was developed to collect irrigated land (acres) by crop and irrigation method. Then a questionnaire was mailed out to 10,000 of the estimated 80,000 growers in California by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The results from comparing earlier studies with 2001 indicated that the amount of land irrigated by drip irrigation method has increased by about 33%, while the amount of land irrigated by surface methods has decreased by about 31%. The area planted to orchards and vineyards has increased, while that planted to field crops has declined. The largest increase in sprinkler use has been in vegetable crops, an increase of 19% since 1972. The 1991 and 2001 statewide surveys exclude rice acreage.