United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content






NRCS Irrigation - Water Management Models

(CCE Version's are for use on NRCS platforms but will still work on non NRCS machines.  The public has the option to  download the non-CCE versions or the CCE version.)

CPED
Center Pivot Evaluation and Design is a Windows program for assessment of center pivot performance. The program simulates the water distribution under a center pivot from various commercial nozzles as well as performs an evaluation from catch can data. This scientific model was adapted by Beccard and Heermann to include the effect of topographic differences in the resulting application depths along the radii of the center pivot in non level fields. Included are pump and well characteristics specific to the system. The model was developed and is supported by ARS Water Management Research Unit in Fort Collins, Colorado. NRCS personnel may download a copy from the Service Centers Common Computing Environment website. Contact local ITS for installation. Non NRCS users may obtain a copy of the software from the ARS Water Management Research Unit products and service page.
CPED, NRCS version
CPED, non NRCS version

CPNOZZLE
Center pivot Nozzling and surface storage program developed by the University of Nebraska was developed to estimate the potential for runoff and resulting economic impact from reducing the operating pressure of a sprinkler package. The runoff potential is determined based on the soil type, field slope, nozzle wetted diameter, system flow rate, and storage residue. NRCS personnel may download a copy from the Service Centers Common Computing Environment website. Contact local ITS for installation. Non NRCS users need to contact the University of Nebraska Engineering department.
CPNOZZLE, NRCS version

CROPFLEX
CROPFLEX is a Window's 3.1 or greater computer tool. Developed by Colorado State University, it provides recommendations for producers on irrigation timing and nutrient scheduling. Crop development and irrigation needs are driven by local climatic inputs. Nutrient balances are determined and a seasonal accounting is made as to plant uptake depending on the health and vigor of the plant from appropriate timing and amounts of irrigation. Depending on plant health and vigor, a mid year correction is presented to allow for modification of nutrient applications. Nutrient needs are based on yields and input soil sampling information. Nutrients considered are manure, organic, and commercial. This includes prior year on crop residue and manure application. Accounting is made for the method of tillage, manure source and application, and method of commercial application. NLEAP nutrient handling technology is embedded in the model. The model is in BETA test stage. A DOS and Windows version of the model, with appropriate users manual is available for download at: CROPFLEX download.
CROPFLEX download (0.6mb)
CROPFLEX CCE version download (1.4mb)

FIRI 1.2
This procedure was developed to approximate or quantify approximate water conservation through changes made to irrigation systems or through management. The program provides a standardized means of documenting change for various cost share programs and planning efforts. The model has potential application as a tool for field and watershed scale quantification of irrigation changes and the impact to water quality.  Model application is aimed at field office level for planners and technicians.
For USDA-NRCS, the package that is posted on the ITS Team Services website is the only certified version of this software authorized for installation on ITS workstations. Contact local ITS personnel for installation. For loading on Non NRCS machines contact Water Management Engineers at the West National Technology Support Center (503) 273-2400. Water Management Engineers

IWR
Irrigation Water Requirements (IWR) is a Windows 95 (or greater) crop consumptive use program developed specifically for NRCS use in development of Consumptive Use Table for the new NRCS Irrigation Guide. IWR uses the FAO Radiation method, the FAO Temperature method or the Blainey- Criddle method depending on the climate information that is available.
IWR CCE version download (15mb)

Phaucet
PHAUCET is a Windows 95 or higher design and evaluation tool for furrow irrigation systems. The program uses field and technical information to calculate existing system performance and define alternatives for improving irrigation efficiency. The program takes into consideration pipe diameter, pressure, gate openings or hole sizes, watered furrow spacing, pipe crown elevations, row lengths, and system flow rate for design calculations.  Program output generated includes pipeline pressures, furrow flow rates, and pipeline low quarter distribution uniformity.
Phaucet CCE version download (7mb) (also available on NRCS Supplemental CD)

Soil Water Characteristics
This model is an interactive soil moisture triangle  It is a stand-alone component from the SPAW model that allows for the determination of soil water based upon soil texture.  The model provides field capacity, wilting point, builk density, saturation, saturated hydraulic conductivity and available water with input of % sand and % clay.  This program by installing the SPAW. Spanish and Italian versions are also available.
SPAW and Soil Water CCE version download
SPAW and Soil Water non-CCE version download

WinFlume
WinFlume is a USBR/ARS Windows95 and 3.1 program that provides procedures for determining head loss and developing flume designs for specific applications. It pertains to long-throated flumes which describes a broad class of critical-flow flumes and broad-crested weir devices (also referred to as the Replogle Flume or ramp weir) used to measure flow in open channels. These devices are adaptable to a variety of measurement applications in both natural and man-made channels, and both new and existing canal systems.
Non-CCE WinFlume manual and download
WinFlume CCE version download (Also available from the NRCS Supplemental CD)
 

WinSRFR V. 1.1
WinSRFR integrates and supercedes the legacy SRFR, BORDER, and BASIN programs developed by the former U.S. Water Conservation Lab.  The application provides a Windows interface to those programs and will also serve as the foundation for future development. WinSRFR is a tool to help evaluate and design border, basin, and furrow irrigation systems.  The tool will assist the user in determining the optimum efficiencies and water utilization. Based on user input the model will calculate advance times, recession times, infiltration depths, runoff, deep percolation, and will provide graphical display of the efficiency and options evaluated. The model is targeted for use by the field office technicians and engineers. For USDA-NRCS, the package that is posted on the ITS Team Services website is the only certified version of this software authorized for installation on ITS workstations. Contact local ITS personnel for installation. Non NRCS users may obtain a copy of the software from the ARS Arid Land Agricultural Research center products and service page.

WinSRFR,  (Non NRCS version)

 

Other Models

Water Management Models Currently under Development and Testing

< Back to Main NRCS Irrigation Page



< Back to ...