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<br />;x., <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVE CONTROL MEASURES <br /> <br />Physical possibilities for reducing the future discharge of <br />excess salts from the Palo Verde Subarea consist of improving onfarm <br />irrigation efficiency, lining laterals, installing tile drains, and <br />accelerated leaching to flush out some salt now so it does not dis- <br />charge later. These measures are treated individually in the follow- <br />ing discussion. <br /> <br />Irrigation Efficiency Improvement <br /> <br />Irrigation Management Services. Irrigation efficiency can be <br />improved by greater precision in irrigation schedul ing so that the <br />amount of water applied during each irrigation is matched to the needs <br />of the crop, the character of the soil, and the leaching requirements <br />for Colorado River water. The Water and Power Resources Service has a <br />program called the I rri gat i on Management Servi ces (IMS) Program to <br />accomplish such scheduling. The program relies on monitoring the soil <br />moisture in the field with a neutron probe, a combined nuclear and <br />electronic device that indicates moisture content directly. By keep- <br />ing a continual record of the soil moisture of each field or group of <br />fields, it is possible to predict the timing and amount of the next <br />irrigation. <br />The Water and Power Resources Service conducted a demonstration <br />IMS program in the Di stri ct from 1973 to October 1977. The program <br />was based on voluntary participation by irrigation operators, and a <br />maximum of 8,000 acres was included. The lands involved were scat- <br />tered within the District. Acceptance of the program by irrigators <br />was mixed, ranging from outspoken enthusiasm to skepticism and disin- <br />terest. At the end of the demonstration program, the District advised <br />that it did not wish to sponsor the IMS program as a District activ- <br />ity, although it was acknowledged that some irrigators were suffi- <br />ci ent ly enthused with i rri gat ion schedul i ng to continue the practice <br />on their own or with the services of private consultants002871 <br /> <br />27 <br />