During the month of December Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission staff, assisted by Georgia Forestry Commission, will be collecting water use data from meters installed on agricultural irrigation systems. Since 2003, more than 13,000 water meters have been installed to monitor agricultural water usage in Georgia.

Information from these meters assist policy makers in understanding agricultural water use in the state and help agricultural producers improve their water-use efficiency. During these field visits, GSWCC staff will also be completing routine maintenance on some of the meters.

"The annual reading and maintenance process is a cornerstone of the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission's agricultural water use program," explained Brent Dykes, GSWCC executive director. "We appreciate the cooperation of producers across the state and commend them for their water conservation efforts. If a farmer sees an individual in their fields, they should feel free to ask for proper identification. State employees collecting meter readings carry identification and will answer any questions."

Agricultural irrigation wells and surface water pumps permitted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division must have a measurement device installed. The GSWCC oversees the program.