WSP03161

• File Number: 8276.150
• Description: Grand Valley Unit-Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 12/1/1976
• Title: Draft - Grand Valley Salinity Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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C:'l The Bureau of Reclamation is working with farmers in the valley to
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2 provide Irrigation Management Services (IMS), This program provides

3 the irri~ator with information which allows him to apply irrigations

4 at the proper soil moisture depletion level and the amount of water

5 needed to replenish the depleted soil moisture plus an appropriate

6 amount for leaching. The IMS program is scheduling irrigations on

7 about 7,000 acres and the service is expanding.

8 The Agricultura1 Research Service, Colorado State University, and the

9 Colorado Water Conservation Board are conducting or have completed

10 extens ive research and demonstration projects in the valley.

11 The Soil Conservation Service provides information on irrigation

12 management along with technical assistance for system improvement.

13 There are presently five technicians employed by the Soil Conservation

14 Service at Grand 4unction. Approximately 10,000 acres of farm land

15 have been adequately treated by the individual land owners insofar as

16 physical improvements are concerned. The present ACP cost sharing is

17 about $100,000 per year. The annual rate at which conservation practices

18 are being installed is reflected in the following tabulation.

On-Farm Practice

Present Average Annual
Installation Rate 1/

Irrigation, Ditch and Canal
Irrigation Field Ditches
Irrigation Pipel ine
Sprinkler and Drip Systems
Land Leve 1 i ng
Land Smoothing
Water Control Structures
Drainage

Li n i ng

97,000 feet
9,800 feet
19.300 feet
60 acres
600 acres
300 acres
140 units
7,400 feet

1/ Average rates for fiscal years 1973-1975.