Implementation of a Decision Support System for Improving Irrigation Water Delivery: Case Study

AbstractDecision support systems (DSSs) for irrigation system management have many benefits, which include water savings and the development of optimal water delivery schedules, while maintaining farmer productivity. To address water shortage and improve water delivery, DSSs have been developed and utilized throughout the United States and the world and can be used to predict crop depletions using weather data to schedule water delivery on the basis of crop demand. The overall utility of DSSs is that they allow managers to continue water delivery and equitably distribute supplies during a water shortage. For a decision support system to be successfully utilized, the complicated challenge of implementation needs to be addressed. Decision support system implementation is often met with harsh resistance from water users and managers alike, and, in many cases, a scientifically sound model is often rejected because of misinformation and lack of user education. This paper presents the successful implementation ...