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<br />., <br /> <br />';..!) w <br />~ <br />~ <br />QO <br /> <br />(;~~~;i <br /> <br />:.-,":.,' <br /> <br />2. Irrigation Monitoring anci Evaluation <br /> <br />a. Summary or Monitoring site Data <br /> <br />Approximately 783 acres were monitored in 1993. This <br />acreage accounts for only a.very small portion (less than. <br />3%) of the total acreage in the McElmo Creek Project Area. <br />The average monitored site for 1993 was 130 acres. . The six <br />sites were established in three different soil types, one <br />type of irrigation system (sideroll sprinkler system) and <br />basically one crop (alfalfa~. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />A total of 104 irrigation events were monitored in 1993 of <br />which 89 events provided usable data. The results of these <br />89 irrigation events collected from the six sites are shown <br />in Appendix A-5 thru A-10. <br /> <br />. I <br /> <br />The amount of water that was put on to each field or farm <br />ranged from a low of 14 acre inches per acre to a high of 33 <br />acre inches per acre. There were many reasons for the wide <br />range in application rates" for. the 1993 irrigation season. <br />Some farmers had their equipment installed late. Some <br />farmers are learning how to use the new equipment. Some <br />farmers just didn't put on enough water. <br /> <br />b. summary of Water Budget <br /> <br />Due to the lateness of getting the 1993 irrigation season <br />under way, the monitored sites were behind with their water <br />budget from the very beginning and never did catch up. The <br />water deficit situation will be observed very closely during <br />the 1994 irrigation and monitoring season. <br /> <br />3. Salt Budgets <br /> <br />a. Reduction in Deep Percolation and Seepage <br /> <br />Deep percolation and seepage seem to be reduced with the <br />installation of new improved irrigation systems, new and <br />improved delivery systems, and better water management. As <br />more monitoring and evaluation takes place, this reduction <br />in deep percolation and seepage should be substantiated. <br />Table 1 on page 3 shows the reduction in deep percolation <br />and the reduction in salt loading since the McElmo Creek <br />project began through the end of the 1993 fiscal year. <br /> <br />7 <br />