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<br />S-5 <br /> <br /> <br />11'- . <br />Ii' <br />':;i}",t <br />'"",,' <br /> <br />N <br />\ol:lIo <br />CJl <br />N <br /> <br />SUMMARY (Continued) <br /> <br />Agricultural practices <br /> <br />Under the no-aotion alternative, the operation of the'present canals <br />and laterals and dr4inage systems would remain about the same as at pres- <br />ent. Some on-farm ~rrigation systems would be improved through the U.S. <br />Department of Agric~lture salinity control programs. Land leveling and <br />field enlargement w~uld continue, causing more modern farming equipment <br />and irrigation practices to be used. <br /> <br />Either alterna~ive A or B would complement the on-farm program of <br />the U.S. Department ~f Agriculture by providing a reliable and manageable <br />irrigation water de~ivery system.' The improved systems would have the <br />potential to increa~e crop production .and/or net returns, but this in- <br />crease has not been ;quantified. Design, sizing, and layout of laterals <br />will be made in coop~ration with the Soil Conservation Service to assure <br />compatibility with tine U.S. Department of Agriculture on-farm improve- <br />ments. <br /> <br />Qperation of irrigation systems <br /> <br />Under the no-ad:ion alterna,tive, the operation of canals and lat- <br />erals in the Grand V~lley would be expected to continue as at present; <br />however, bydevelopi~ either alternative Aor B, existing systems would <br />require major change$ in their operation, maintenance, and replacement <br />practices. To fur.the~ ensure salinity beneU'ts as well as the integrity <br />of the system, addit~onal operation, maintenance, and replacement costs <br />would be incurred. . <br /> <br />Soils <br /> <br />No significant cfiange in soi1 0,1' erosion conditions is anticipated <br />under the no-action a1tefnative. <br /> <br />Seepage reductiop as a result of canal and lateral improvements <br />under alternative A orlB would lower water tables and subsequently reduce <br />the upward ,capillary lmovement of salt carrying water, thus decreasing <br />salt deposits at the \ land surface in some areas and increasing crop <br />growth. Properly applied irrigatiCm water- could then contain the salt <br />below, the root zone, tesulting in better crop growth in, the long term. <br />The actual improvemen~ in crop growth cannot be quantified because of <br />many variations in dra~nage conditions, ,soil types, and irrigation prac- <br />tices.. <br /> <br />During constructi4>n of either'alternative A or B, erosion would, be <br />a problem ,when vegetat~on was cleared and soils were exposed to wind and <br />water. Construction maiterial sites along washes could constitute special <br />problem areas if the l::hannels of the washes were disturbed; however, <br />these sites would be ~eveloped with buffer zones along the washes to <br />alleviate this problem.- <br />