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<br />25 <br /> <br />1981 OBSERVATION WELL DATA <br /> <br />~ <br />~ Observation well data were taken at approximately one-month intervals. <br />~ <br />~ throughout the year. There was no apparent flow response to irrigation <br /> <br />at either the Huntington or Hunter farms. The water level in well E-2 <br /> <br />at Hunter declined continuously through the year, including the irrigation <br /> <br />season. Well E-2 is under the center pivot sprinkler system. Well E-6 <br /> <br />at the bottom of the Hunter Farm also showed no response to irrigation. <br /> <br />Salinity in the Hunter Observation wells fluctuates throughout the year <br /> <br />and is approximately 10 times greater than salinity of the ground- <br /> <br />The general decline in groundwater levels at the lower ends of both <br /> <br /> <br />water at Huntington. <br /> <br />farms and the non-existent response to irrigation suggests that water <br /> <br />management is improving and that the irrigation is not having a signi- <br /> <br />ficant effect on groundwater fluctuations. <br /> <br />Examination of the groundwater contour maps for December 15, 1980, <br /> <br />and July 29, 1981, shows the groundwater levels to be nearly the same. <br /> <br />This is further evidence that the irrigation operations in 1981 did not <br /> <br />seriously disturb the natural groundwater flow system. The contours <br /> <br />also show water moving into the irrigated areas from the surrounding <br /> <br />streams and natural groundwater flow systems. <br /> <br />Salinity of the groundwater leaving the Huntington farm (Well H-lW) <br /> <br />seems to be a result of natural processes rather than the application <br /> <br />of irrigation water. At Hunter (Well E-6W) the salinity of the water <br /> <br />leaving the farm is the lowest measured on the farm. If irrigation is <br /> <br />having an effect, it is to improve the quality of the groundwater. <br /> <br />Observation well measurements on a regular basis are improving the <br /> <br />interpretation of groundwater movement. <br />