WSPC02336

• File Number: 8272
• Description: Colorado River - Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - CRBSCP
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 8/1/1993
• Author: DOI-BOR - BIA
• Title: Navajo Indian Reservation - Hogback-Upper Fruitland Canal - Ponding Tests and Seepage Rate Determinations
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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4 "oJ ~- Hogback / Upper Fruitland Canal
t9 CWOb ponding Tests and Seepage Rate Determinations

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The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) with assistance from the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) conducted ponding tests during
october and November of 1992 to determine canal seepage rates in
the Shiprock, New Mexico area. The tests were performed to
determine if canal seepage on the Hogback and Upper Fruitland
Canals (Navajo Indian Reservation) is sufficient to be a major
contributor of salinity to the San Juan River. The Navajo Tribe
and BIA in Shiprock, New Mexico provided equipment and did much
of the work, constructing earth dams, lining them with plastic,
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and running water in the canals.

Seepage from canals is the result of movement of water through
canal banks and bottoms. Reclamation expresses this loss in
terms of the volume of water lost through a specified area of
wetted canal surface in a specified period of time. Reclamation
ttnormallY expresses this loss rate in cubic feet of water passing
through one square foot of wetted canal surface per day
(ft'/ft2/day) .

Seepage rates were calculated for the canals using the following
information for each pond: (1) the initial volume of water, (2)
the initial wetted area, (3) the change in volume of water with
time, and (4) average wetted area during the test. Seepage rates
were estimated using the following equation:

Seepage

cubic feet of water lost (ft3) per average square
feet of wetted canal (ft2) per day

Test results indicate low rates of seepage from these canals.
The seepage rate for the Hogback Canal ranged from 0..06 to 0.15
ft/day. The seepage rate for the Upper Fruitland Canal ranged
from 0.09 to 0.14 ft/day. These seepage rates are comparable to
those of concrete lined canals in good condition with good joint
fillers.
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