Laserfiche WebLink
<br />PROJECl' TOTALS <br /> <br />Estimates for the total project area were made by expanding the sample data. <br />This procedure gives some indication of the magnitude of the landowner investment <br />m.ich will be needed. While the final mix of systan improvanent will be <br />determined by the landowners m.o install the systems, the following section show <br />m.at might be r6:juired if all the lands were developed as indicated. <br /> <br />Sideroll Sprinkler Systems <br /> <br />If all the landowners choose to install the sideroll sprinkler systems as <br />designed by the Soil Conservation Service, 18,000 acres will be converted to <br />irrigated cropland within the project area. About 473,000 feet of IIDdergrOl.mCl <br />pipeline will be r6:juired to supply water to these systems. Over 450 sideroll <br />systems will be needed if each system is designed to serve an average of 40 <br />acres. <br /> <br />The total cost of the needed onfarm irrigation systems will exceed 5.5 <br />million dollars. Of this amount, 2.2 million dollars will go for installing the <br />undergrOlIDd pipeline and 3.3 million dollars to Wy the sideroll sprinklers. The <br />annual (l1&R and labor costs were included in the net benefit analysis. At the <br />present time, the seven-year lease with an option to Wy being offered by several <br />local canpanies appears to be the least costly method to finance systems. <br /> <br />Center Pivot Systems <br /> <br />Center pivot systems will not adapt to all fields in the study area. The <br />available data indicated that about 14,000 acres could be developed using center <br />pivot systems. Generally the intake rates of the soils limited the size of each <br />systan to about 97 acres. Due to this limitation, center pivot's cost/acre were <br />higher than siderolls. <br /> <br />To install the approximate 150 centerpivots in the project area, over <br />244,000 feet of IIDderground pipeline will be r6:juired to transport the water from <br />the farm turnouts to the pivots. Costs to install this arnount of pipeline is <br />estimated at just over 1.0 million dollars. The center pivot systems will cost <br />over 6.4 million dollars, bringing the total of this alternative to over 7.5 <br />million dollars. The annual G1&R and labor costs were included in the net <br />benefit analysis. <br /> <br />Future Trends <br /> <br />It is expected that a mix of irrigation system types will be installed by <br />the landowners in the projected area. Sprinkler systems will be installed to take <br />advantage of the pressures IIDder m.ich the water will be delivered. Also the <br />higher efficiency of the sprinkler systems will allow better use of the limited <br />water supply and result in higher yields. <br /> <br />Erosion fran the irrigated fields will be below allowable limits for long <br />term production if the cropping patterns contain the amount of alfalfa m.ich is <br />presently anticipated. However, management of the systems will have to be <br />monitored closely to prevent run off. <br /> <br />-13- <br />