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<br />. <br />H? <br /> <br />c....:,l <br /> <br />~ <br />o <br />C) <br />,~ <br /> <br />stream size, time of set, etc. for the new irrigation <br />systems are appropriate and are being applied. <br /> <br />5. Actual field soil moisture needs to be compared with <br />computer generated values using crop ET data and <br />appropriate adjustments made. There is a need to obtain <br />fast, reliable estimates of field soil moisture <br />conditions. <br /> <br />6. CUrrently, the weakest piece of information on irrigation <br />system design, IWM planning and scheduling is the soil intake <br />rate. Intake rates being used for planning seem to be low <br />for most soils. This could lead to designing irrigation <br />systems that do not reflect actual field conditions. It also <br />may lead to underestimating deep percolation and or problems <br />with required application rate. Priority needs to be given <br />to determining the intake rate of the major soils in the <br />Grand Valley. Future monitoring studies on soil infiltration <br />and wetted perimeter are also needed. <br /> <br />7. An alternative cultural, management or agronomic practice <br />is needed to replace the traditionally used "blacking <br />over" practice for establishment of small grain and first <br />year alfalfa. An alternative method would help reduce deep <br />percolation during the first irrigation. <br /> <br />8. The monitoring water budget computer program needs a process <br />to adjust for high water table. A few monitoring sites are <br />located in areas of high water table. M&E computer generated <br />values do not reflect the conditions in the field. <br /> <br />9. A continuity in M&E staffing needs to be maintained in <br />order to do an effective job. M&E work is very specialized <br />and different from other SCS jobs. Therefore, it is <br />essential that if there is a vacancy through transfer etc. <br />that a new person be hired before the old employee leaves so <br />that some training can be provided. This will ensure <br />smoother transition. <br /> <br />10. Data downloading, processing and evaluation is being done <br />using several computer programs. These programs have been in <br />place for several years but problems are still being <br />encountered. In the future, at least one M&E Team member <br />needs to have computer programming knowledge. If not, <br />priority assistance will be needed from the state Office or <br />outside consultants need to be hired on a contractual basis. <br /> <br />31 <br />