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<br />THE THOMPSON FARM <br /> <br />The Colorado Water Conservation Board has been working on the <br />Thompson farm for two.years. This farm WdS selected by drawing from a <br />number of farms whose owners were interested in a tail water pump back <br />system. <br /> <br /> <br />The primary objective of this demonstration was to show an irrigation <br />system which would have a high water use efficiency; the cost of which <br />would not be prohibitive for the farmer to install. We believe that the <br />Colorado River Water Quality Improvem~nt Program will provide incentive <br />through the Agricultural Department to assist farmers to install the <br />kind of irrigation system that will fit the needs of their particular <br />soils and crops. <br /> <br />An automated gated pipe pump back system was considered at this <br />location but in the interest of economy it ~/as decided level ditches <br />with time operated gates could be operated with equal efficiency. <br />Accordingly, the west field (about 23 acres) was leveled and a new level <br />head ditch system \~as installed. Since the rest of the farm already had <br />a concrete head ditch. as many farms in the valley have. it was decided <br />to try and use the existing ditch. We began by drilling level banks of <br />outlets through the concrete and inserting two inch polyethelyne tubes <br />through the ditch bank. A six inch concrete cap was also put on the ditch <br />to increase the head on the outlets. The old ditch was used through the <br />1974 season. but many years of silt accumulation in front of the ditch <br />caused a barrier for water entering into the field. We have since <br /> <br />1696 <br />