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FULL PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND <br /> SCOPE OF WORK <br /> PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS: Dr.John Wilkins-Wells,Colorado State University; Dr.Timothy <br /> Gates,Colorado State University;Dr.Terence Podmore, <br /> Colorado State University;Dr.Ramchand Oad,Colorado State <br /> Uuniversity. <br /> STUDY TEAM: Wiley of Big Bend Drainage District <br /> Natural Resources Conservation Service <br /> ADVISORY TEAM: Aqua Engineering,Inc. <br /> Applegate Group,Inc. <br /> ENDORSEMENTS: City of Lamar <br /> Bent and Prowers Counties Assessor's Offices <br /> Pleasant Valley Drainage District <br /> Korman Drainage District <br /> Las Animas Consolidated Drainage District <br /> Lubbers Drainage District <br /> Granada Drainage District <br /> Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District <br /> STUDY SUMMARY <br /> The proposed study concerns the future of aging subsurface and surface drainage systems in the <br /> Lower Arkansas Valley. The Lower Arkansas Valley subsurface drainage systems are 90 years old.1 Tile <br /> drains and associated manholes,collectors,and wasteways are in deteriorating condition. This subjects <br /> many farms to saline high water tables and poor hydrologic conductivity or seep. Communities and rural <br /> housing subdivisions are also affected by high water tables and poor drainage of surrounding irrigated <br /> lands. <br /> Recent research conducted by Colorado State University has shown that drainage is of major <br /> concern to growers and communities in the Lower Arkansas Valley.2 Poor drainage will likely be <br /> properly addressed only through a combination of modifications to current irrigation practices,including <br /> reducing seepage through earthen canals,improved efficiencies in the application of irrigation water on <br /> farms,vertical pumping where it can be applied effectively,and improvements in the design and <br /> performance of subsurface and surface drainage systems. <br /> In an attempt to address one important aspect of this larger problem,the proposed study will <br /> generate information that will assist and be beneficial to 25 small drainage districts in the Lower Arkansas <br /> Valley in conducting a major inventory and estimation of costs and benefits associated with rehabilitating <br /> 1 John H.Griffin,Associate Engineer Appraiser and A.R.Owens,Assistant Engineer Appraiser,The Federal Land <br /> Bank of Wichita, 1943. <br /> 2 Gates,Timothy,K.,J.Philip Burkhalter,John W.Labadie,James Valliant,and Israel Broner,Monitoring and <br /> Modeling Flow and Salt Transport in a Salinity-Threatened Irrigated Valley. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage <br /> Engineering(March/April,2002). <br /> 1 <br />