C150204 Application - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Second,the study is needed to identify a step-by-step,minimal cost approach to identifying and rehabilitating subsurface drainage infrastructure where it has been installed throughout the state. In the Sociology Water Lab's preliminary investigation of drainage issues in the Lower Arkansas Valley for this proposal,we were surprised to find the extent of subsurface drainage infrastructure in this part of the valley(see Table 1 and 2). In a subsequent section,we will briefly discuss what we currently know about this infrastructure. For now we can say that what is described for the Lower Arkansas Valley may well be found in many other irrigated areas of the state. The proposed study will help the state better assess what methods and opportunities exist to improve agricultural production through improved drainage. Third,the study is designed to explore ways in which drainage can be better organized and financed. As discussed later, drainage was organized in the Lower Arkansas Valley largely on an incremental basis. That is to say,small drainage districts were formed over the years,and assessments on the land to be benefited were collected generally for routine maintenance only. In the early years, coordination of drainage district activities was not perceived as particularly important. All of this tended to contribute to a"crisis management"approach to drainage maintenance over the years,rather than a long-term planning approach toward maintenance and periodic rehabilitation. Fourth,the technology for drainage maintenance has advanced over the years largely by way of innovations and technology used in the sewer industry. One of the prototype irrigation districts being used to inform our study,the South Columbia Basin Irrigation District in Pasco,Washington,has made extensive use of sewer industry drainage technology. In preparation for this proposal,the Sociology Water Lab videotaped the South Columbia Basin Irrigation District drainage program to document its benefits to agriculture and surrounding communities. The videotape was shown to Lower Arkansas Valley drainage district representatives at a meeting on July 8th,2004 in preparation of this proposal. The South Columbia Basin Irrigation District drainage O&M program was viewed very favorably by these representatives. The proposed study will bring knowledge from this world-class drainage design and maintenance program to bear on drainage problems facing irrigated agriculture in the Lower Arkansas Valley and the State of Colorado. In summary,the end product of the study is to identify: (1)cost-effective ways in which older drainage systems for irrigated agriculture can be improved,(2)where new drainage systems may be needed to maintain agricultural productivity and adequate water quality of return flows from irrigated lands, (3)how to better design long-term maintenance of drainage systems for irrigated agriculture using up-to-date technology, and(4)specific recommendations to the state for a modern drainage system program,including possible modifications to our drainage district statutes to accommodate changing needs. BENEFITS OF STUDY The output of the study will benefit a wide range of stakeholders. These include: 1. For Farmers-better understanding of the importance of drainage systems to their crop production and land. 2. For Agricultural Water Suppliers—better understanding of how canal delivery systems affect drainage issues,and what can be done to improve canal management in a way that minimizes drainage problems on the land they deliver water to. 3. For Municipalities and Rural Domestics—ensuring cooperation between municipalities,utilities, developers and drainage districts to minimize damage to subsurface and surface drains as residential 4