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<br />J <br /> <br />We are confident the work carried out in this planned program for <br />Salinity Control will complement our present conservation program. It <br />will be a community wide improvement that future generations may enjoy. <br /> <br />t'_ <br /> <br />~ <br />''''~ <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />;~,--~) <br /> <br />Please advise us when we may be of assistance. We look forward to <br />entering into this era of accelerated conservation work in the Grand Valley. <br /> <br />Colorado State University <br /> <br />The Agricultural Engineering Department of Colorado State University <br />presently has two large salinity projects in the Grand Valley. One <br />project is located on the Ken Matchett property at 2844 F. Road. The <br />other is located on 750 acres between 29 and 32 Roads on the north side <br />of the Colorado River (See Figure 1). Both projects are funded by the <br />U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. <br /> <br />The first project incorporates 63 plots on 23 acres which have been <br />constructed to study the intricate salt-soil-water relationships in the <br />irrigated soils of the Grand Valley. The project js also investigating <br />the effects of different fertilization levels and plant water stress on <br />crop yields. <br /> <br />In this investigation, the plots have been constructed with heavy <br />plastic sheeting down to the shale bedrock with polyethylene drainage <br />tile on a lOa foot x 100 foot grid. This in effect provides a closed <br />box arrangement: with no outside interference, thereby permitting detailed <br />scientific study. The primary purpose of this research is to provide <br />background data regarding expected salt load reductions that would result <br />from reduct ionsi n groundwater flows. <br /> <br />The purpose of the second project is to demonstrate the effect of <br />various irrigation systems on reducing the salt load entering the Colorado <br />River. The measures being implemented include the construction of concrete <br />di tch Ii nings, plastic pipelines, sprinklers, trickle irrigation, field <br />dra'inage, semi-automated furrow irrigation, improved water management and <br />irrigation scheduling on 8.lateral systems. <br /> <br />This proj ect has installed almost 10 miles of concrete ditches and <br />buried plastic pipe systems and more than 7 miles of drainage tile in the <br />study area. Although major emphasis is upon on-farm improvements, <br />considerable improvement in water delivery conveyances and tail water <br />disposal are also essential. The project worked entirely with privately <br />owned lands and the participating irrigators paid 30% of the total <br />construction costs, either in money or labor. The total value of the <br />improvements is in excess of $340,000. Irrigator response to the program <br />has been much better than was anticipated and is a very good indication <br />that these types of projects will be continued in the future, probably <br />through the SCS (Soil Conservation Service). At this time a Field Days <br />is planned for August 1976 to acquaint Western Colorado Irrigators with <br />these projects. <br /> <br />The final objective of the two projects is to combine the results <br />into a broad cost-effectiveness format to provide economic guidelines for <br />future governmental salinity reduction programs. <br />