As sure as death and taxes water reforms expressed in government policies and regulations will reduce the availability of irrigation water and increase its cost.

An irrigation and drainage management plan (IDMP) is designed to enable managers to assess their irrigation enterprise objectively and then identify ways to improve, by better irrigation management, how effectively and efficiently it uses water.

What is an IDMP?

An (IDMP) identifies the works and practices that will improve irrigation, drainage management and water use efficiency (WUE) for an irrigation farm.

An IDMP contains an evaluation of the irrigated crop production system (soil, water, climate, crops, irrigation and drainage system). This plan identifies the management practices needed to achieve best irrigation and drainage management practice, analyses the options and defines a plan for action.

Implementing an IDMP helps improve the sustainability of irrigated crop production systems by minimising irrigation-induced impacts on the environment.

An IDMP consists of:

• a written report,

• a base map or plan of the

• enterprise.several plans, overlays or maps that show different components of the irrigated enterprise and how they relate.

In the IDMP, the Irrigation enterprise is assessed under each of these sections:

1. Owner's goals
2. Property information, ownership and location details
3. Infrastructure, topography and natural features
4. Soils, water and climate
5. Irrigated cropping enterprises
6. Irrigation systems
7. Irrigation drainage, recycling and effluent systems
8. A plan for action

Whats in it for me ?

• Improved irrigation WUE

• Increased returns per megalitre

• Potential to irrigate an increased crop area from water savings

• Assist in meeting increased legislative requirements to purchase irrigation water

• Reducing adverse environmental impacts such as soil salinisation, waterlogging, nutrient pollution, rising groundwater tables, and water quality degradation.

• Potential to integrate base resource inventory maps and natural resource assessments into whole farm property plans.

• Improved loan negation by demonstrating to the financier a commitment to best practice, objective plans for increased production and reduced investment risk.

By committing time and energy to preparing and using a management plan, irrigation managers can satisfy personal and business goals and meet market, community and government demands.