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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />N <br />o <br />TV <br />-.:! <br /> <br />program. The contract is based upon irrigation water management plans <br />developed with SCS technical planning assistance. The contract provides for <br />technical and cost-share assistance on design and installation of water <br />management practices. There are provisions for irrigation water management <br />effiCiency compliance checks over a two-year period fOllowing installation of <br />practices. <br /> <br />The SCS establishes planning and implementation priorities to more effectively <br />use the resources allocated to the program. Priorities are established by <br />considering current irrigation efficiencies, crops grown, adequacy of onfarm <br />systems, and soil characteristics. Lands with greatest potential for <br />increasing efficiencies and decreasing drainage return flows receive highest <br />priorities. All plans and SCS contracts are reviewed and approved by the <br />governing Board of Supervisors for the Wellton-Mohawk Valley Natural Resource <br />Conservation District. <br /> <br />Figure III-l, Wellton-Mohawk Applications, Contracts, and Treatments (acres <br />by year) shows the overall progress since the program was initiated. <br />Figure III-2, Wellton-Mohawk Applications and Plans/Contracts (numbers by <br />year) also reflects the ann4al number of participants assisted. <br /> <br />As of 1982, 327 applications for assistance on 52,600 acres were received. <br />Irrigation water management plans and contracts have. been developed on 237 <br />farms covering 33,600 acres. Of these, 26,400 acres have been fully treated <br />and are presently under a continuing irrigation water management program. <br /> <br />In 1982,. 21 applications were received for 3,700 acres. Completed plans and <br />contracts were signed on 30 farms covering 3,550 acres. All land treatment <br />and water management improvement practices for salinity control were applied <br />to 6,340 acres in 1982. Technical assistance for continued irrigation water <br />management will be provided on these acres over the next two years as part of <br />the follow-up program. <br /> <br />Table III-l presents a summary of 1982 accomplishments and the total practices <br />installed to date. Figure III-3 illustrates the downward trend in drainage <br />return flows from 1975 through 1981. These downward trends can be attributed <br />to the combined effects of the USDA onfarm program and the Bats acreage <br />reduction program and Irrigation Management Services. It is interesting to <br />note the initial 1974 return flow goal of 136,000 acre-feet per year has <br />nearly been achieved and the 108,000 acre-feet revised goal established in <br />1979 should be achieved if the same downward trend continues through 1986. <br />The slight annual increase in 1977 and 1980 are a result of increased drainage <br />flows attributed to flooding influences of the Gila River. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />9 <br /> <br />r <br />