Flow Rate Measurement
Facility (QMF)

The Irrigation Training & Research Center (ITRC) of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo has exciting plans to create the Flow Rate Measurement Facility (QMF) to provide water monitoring infrastructure and services to water districts in the Western U.S.  Services at the QMF will model the existing USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility in Mississippi.  There is currently no comparable facility west of the Mississippi, creating a large gap in the western states' ability to adequately keep up with new developments in flow measurement design and technology.

Flow measurement 1

Flow measurement 2

 ITRC is the only center that provides substantial irrigation district modernization support in the western states, and is funded completely by contracts for research, workshops, and technical assistance.  Although ITRC offers farmer training, its emphasis has been on training the designers and farm and landscape irrigation systems, as well as irrigation district personnel.  Through these training programs, huge numbers of water users indirectly benefit from our work, resulting in the maximum possible return for funds invested in ITRC.

What the QMF would accomplish

  • Create a clearinghouse/resource center for flow measurement technology and equipment
  • Perform field and lab testing of new and innovative technology, and advance the knowledge gained
  • Provide technical support for the USBR and other irrigation districts in the western US
  • Focus on canals and pipelines (as opposed to rivers and streams) to provide a much-needed emphasis on water delivery methods and modernization
  • Purchase equipment/supplies at quantity (50 unit) lots and pass on savings to districts with mark-up
  • Work with districts in a cost-sharing component (50/50)

Flow measurement 3

ITRC's Qualifications

  • Unrivaled reputation working with irrigation districts and other agencies through the western states, including the US Bureau of Reclamation, California Energy Commission, and the California Department of Water Resources
  • Prior work with over 100 industry companies and manufacturers
  • State-of-the-art facilities for the teaching and demonstration of innovative technologies and techniques related to water delivery, pumping, and farm irrigation
  • Creator of standards and procedures for measuring flow rates in both small (less than 50 cubic feet per second) and large (up to 5,000 cubic feet per second) canals

   For more information, contact:
   Dr. Stuart Styles, ITRC Director
   Phone: 805-756-2429
   Email: sstyles@calpoly.edu

 

 

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