Partnering with Practitioners in Developing Improved Information Technologies for Water Management

This research highlight describes how the Technology for Trade project partnered with water managers, farmers, agencies, and conservation organizations to guide the development of improved water-management technologies in eastern Washington. Through a series of listening sessions across the Columbia River Basin, project researchers gathered input from irrigation districts, conservation districts, Tribal and state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and agricultural producers. These discussions helped refine research priorities related to remote estimation of consumptive water use, improved seasonal forecasting, and the design of water markets.

Stakeholder feedback also shaped survey development and outreach strategies, helping researchers better understand attitudes toward water policy, market transparency, and water allocation decisions during drought conditions. The conversations generated new research directions, including exploring short-term water leasing to create environmental “pulse flows” for fish and examining patterns of water-right diminishment during regulatory review. The project demonstrates how practitioner engagement can strengthen research design and ensure that decision-support tools for water management reflect real-world constraints and priorities.

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (project #1016467).