THE GREAT SALT LAKE AND COLORADO RIVER BASINS REACHED RECORD LOW ELEVATIONS IN 2022. THESE BASINS SUPPLY WATER FOR OVER 40 MILLION PEOPLE. LOW ELEVATIONS ARE CAUSING EXTREMES CONCERNS FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRICULTURE. THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF DROUGHT ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN THE FUTURE AS CLIMATE CHANGES. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO COLLECT EXPERIENCE, RESEARCH AND EXTENSION IDEAS, AND TOOLS FROM OTHER WATERSHEDS TO HELP AID IN THE OPTIMIZATION OF AGRICULTURE WATER IN THESE TWO BASINS THAT SERVE MOST OF UTAH. IT WILL INCREASE MY AND UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY'S CAPACITY TO SERVE WATER MANAGERS AND USERS IN UTAH AND THE SURROUNDING REGION. THE OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO LEARN TECHNIQUES AND BUILD CONNECTIONS TO ENHANCE LONG-TERM EFFORTS TO OPTIMIZE WATER USE IN AGRICULTURE THROUGH IMPROVED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, ALTERNATIVE CROPS, WATER MARKETS, PRECISION IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT, AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE. IT WILL INCLUDE TWO TRIPS IN 2024 TO SEVERAL AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES WITH PREMIER IRRIGATION RESEARCH AND EXTENSION FACILITIES, PROGRAMS, AND RESOURCES. THIS SABBATICAL PROJECT WILL ALLOW ME TO TAKE LARGE STRIDES TOWARDS MY GOALS OF I) ESTIMATING CONSUMPTIVE USE IN LONG-TERM WATER OPTIMIZATION TRIALS IN UTAH TO GUIDE WATER USERS, MANAGERS, AND POLICY MAKERS; II) CONNECTING MY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS WITH SURROUNDING STATES AND OTHER DISCIPLINES; III) DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE PRECISION AGRICULTURE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM THAT PREPARES STUDENTS TO ADVANCE PRECISION IRRIGATION; AND IV) DEVELOPING A NATIONAL TEAM OF IRRIGATION FACULTY TO ELEVATE THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO IMPROVE IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT AND GUIDE WATER OPTIMIZATION EFFORTS.