WSP09806

• File Number: 8273.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control - Federal Agencies - Bureau of Reclamation
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 11/1/1985
• Author: BOR
• Title: 1985 Evaluation of Salinity Control Programs in the Colorado River Basin
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

;;

,j'

w
C)1
1---
o

Research and Demonstration

could I?lay a valuable and important role in project visi-
bility/ local understanding, and local acceptance.

Research and demonstration activities continue to be impor-
tant to the development of new technologies and improvement
of wat~r management practices for control of soil and water
salini4Y. The ARS provides national leadership for salinity
related research and demonstration activities. In addition,
the CSaS(Cooperative State Research Service) and SAES
(StateiAgricultural Experiment Stations) provide the
leader~hip and conduct research funded from Federal and
State sources.

37

i
M
,
,
,
';,
-;'1
l
.'
-'i
~
j
~
,;
,
, -'1
!
t
.~
.,
''1
,')
:j
.'~
/1
;!
i
:i
'J
.,
~
/1
"
,
:n
I
',5
:1
A
~
.~
:;;
~
.~
~
.~
,
;
1
.1
.' H.
i, '1
~
,
J
!
,
,

Aqricultural Research Service - The majority of the ARS
salinity activities are conducted at the U.S. Salinity
Laboraiory in Riverside, California, the U.S. Water
Conseriation Laboratory in Phoenix, Arizona, the
Agricu~tural Engineering Research Center in Ft. Collins,
ColoraQo, and the Snake River Conservation Research Center
at Kim&erly, Idaho. More detailed discussions and explana-
tions are provided in the 1984 USDA Annual Report.

The dr4inwater reuse project in the Imperial Valley of
Califol!nia involves the use of saline drainwater as a par-
tial sdurce of irrigation water at different stages of crop
growth. Research has been underway for 3 years on rotation$
of cotton, sugar beets, and wheat. Drainwater of about
3,000 ~g/L has been substituted for 50 to 75 percent of
irriga~ion water without reducing crop yield.

In Graqd Valley, ARS scientists have been studying the use
of staqle isotopes to determine the relative quantities of
local ground water that originates from Colorado River water,
precip~tation, and lateral ground water flows from nonirri-
gated ~reas. Preliminary results indicate about 1/3 of the
wells ~ampled contain ground water from other than Colorado.
River qrigin. Separation of deep percolation and
canal/~ateral seepage losses in ground water is still under
invest~gation. Results of these isotope study findings
should 'be available for release in 1986. ARS scientists at
Fort Cqllins are evaluating the use of improved soil
infilt~ation characteristics to further improve the design
and management of graded furrow irrigation systems in Grand
valley.:

The U. :S. Water Conservation Laboratory in Arizona is moni-
toring :irrigation water delivery systems and the interaction
of hydI!aulic conditions and water management decisions to

........