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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />o <br />c.o <br />~ <br />~ <br /> <br />SPECIAL STUDIES (Continued) <br /> <br />drainage system. This model can be interfaced with the conjunctive use <br />model mentioned above to provide basin wide simulation capabilities. <br />Information concerning these models are included in final reports dated <br />August 1977, (EPA-600l2-77-l79c and 17ge). <br /> <br />With these models the implication for water resource projects is <br />that farm operation could be designed to use the least amount of water <br />and return the smallest amount of salt to the river while permitting the <br />farmer to obtain the greatest possible return from his farm. The salt <br />load reductions expected from irrigation scheduling and management could <br />also be verified on the Vernal Unit in the Uinta Basin. <br /> <br />2. Florida Project Area Study <br /> <br />Flow and quality data were collected at several points in the <br />Florida Project area beginning in 1958 before the project was con- <br />structed. A study of these data for the period 1958-63 show the effect <br />of irrigation of these lands on the quality of return flows leaving the <br />area. <br /> <br />Results show that there has been a very small amount of pickup <br />measured in the river downstream from the irrigated area. The concen- <br />tration of total dissolved solids in the in flowing water ranges from <br />0.14 to 0.17 ton per acre-foot (103 to 125 mg/l), and that of the out- <br />flowing water ranges from 0.17 to 0.30 ton per acre-foot (125 to 221 <br />mg/l). About 13,720 acres (5,550 ha) were irrigated at the time the <br />measurements were made. <br /> <br />Other areas in the Colorado River Basin with similar type soils and <br />underlying aquifers would yield only minor amounts of salt. <br /> <br />3. Grand Valley Area A.R.S. <br /> <br />The Agricultural Research Service is doing a research study in the <br />Grand Valley with regards to irrigation efficiencies. This is further <br />covered in Part VIII. <br /> <br />4. Montezuma Valley <br /> <br />The Soil Conserva tion Service has conducted a study of on farm <br />improvements in the Montezuma Valley in Colorado. <br /> <br />5. Other Studies <br /> <br />Considerable variation in the effects of irrigation return flow on <br />water quality is to be expected. D1fferences arise due to the size of <br />the irrigated areas, the number of times the return flow is reused, <br />properties of the soils and drainage area, number of years land has been <br /> <br />122 <br />