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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />quality control procedures, Actually, however, sufficient experience <br />information for a State-,tide specification is not now available, but as <br />a helpful interim arrangement, tentative specifications for areas ,lith <br />an ample experience ba"kground with local clays could be prepared. The <br />CSU project will gladly assist in such local determinations (by County <br />ACP cODDDi ttees, etc,) of specifications for the clay quality, and instal- <br />lation procedures as well. <br /> <br />Skilled applicators--The development of people skilled in the use of <br />local clays for. sealing of canals and reservoirs is being accomplished <br />in several different ways. For example, in some areas, the clay pro- <br />ducer will also haul and install the bentonite or clay. Actually, .the <br />bulk of the favorable work has been installed on this basis. In some <br />areas, the larger irrigation districts prefer to do their own mining, <br />hauling, and installation work. In other areas, especially where the <br />irrigation group has limited equipment, local dirt-moving contractors <br />are assisting in the development work. In any case, continuity of <br />effort from the mining to the installation process is important. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />The market potential--In summary, the major market potential of interest <br />to this project relates to water conservation--specifically, to the seal- <br />ing of leaky canals and reservoirs.l As a result of the initial sampling <br />efforts, we believe that ample quantities of suitable clays can be found <br />and developed within a lOO-mile radius of every major irrigated area in <br />Colorado. However, to development, this market and its water conservation <br />potential will require coordinated efforts of mining, procedure develop- <br />ment, installation, and evaluation. Major problems that must be overcome, <br />more or less concurrently, include (a) development of installation proce- <br />dures to fit the local clays to the local canal and reservoir conditions, <br />(b) development of local contractors or irrigation districts with men <br />skilled in the sealing applications of the local clays, (c) development <br />of clay deposits so as to insure porduction of clays of resonably uni- <br />form and known characteristics for sealing purposes, and (d) acceptance <br />of methods and materials (as developed) for USDA-ACP cost sharing program. <br /> <br />~~ <br /> <br />lother important potential markets beyond the scope of this project <br />include (a) foundry sand additive, (b) brick and tile clay, (c) desic- <br />cator (moisture control) materials, (d) filter (decolorizer) materials, <br />and (e) drilling mud (oil well) use. <br /> <br />-12- <br />