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<br />w <br />t;J') <br />N <br />en <br /> <br />Al so, the 1972-1975 average cropping pattern waS chosen to portray probabl e <br />future occurrences. The 1972-1975 average croppi ng pattern tends to refl ect <br />the intense double cropping in the WMI8tDD today. <br /> <br />Time periods for this work were estimated as follows: <br />, <br /> <br />1977 = Estimated present efficiency level. <br />1981 = 167,000 acre-feet return flow obtained by adjusting the present <br />efficiency levels upward. This is done due to the onfarm <br />improvement programs and irrigation scheduling programs in <br />the WMI&DD. <br />1987 = New Program Levell efficiencies. <br />1996 = New Program Level 3 efficiencies. <br /> <br />Drainage return flows for the various time periods and efficiency levels <br />based on the 1972-1975 average cropping pattern and reflecting acreage <br />reduction are as follows: <br /> <br />.1977 = 172,944 acre-feet <br />1981 = 167,185 acre- feet <br />1987 = 139,934 acre-feet <br />1996 = 107,206 acre~feet <br /> <br />Due to uncertainties in estimating many individual parameters which make <br />up the water bu~get, it is believed that a range from 150,000 to 167,000 <br />acre-feet per year for drainage return flow can be expected in the. fore- <br />.seeable future. Any reduction below 150,000 acre~feet drainage return flow <br />is highly speculative at this time. It win probably be 1980 or19Bl <br />before any hard data are available On which a rel iable projection of return <br />flows can be made. <br /> <br />B. Return Fl ow Reducti on Measures and Status <br /> <br />. The return flow reducti on programs have two major goals; to increase on farm <br />irrigation efficiencies through improved irrigation systems and management <br />to the highest level pOSSible prior to startup of the desalting plant, and <br />to reduce the irrigable acreage within the Oistrictto prevent future <br />return flow increases. The programs involve. the cooperation of the farmers <br />in the District, cooperation and advice of the District, cooperation and <br />advi ce of the Wellton.~lohawk Valley Natural Resource Conservat; on Di stri ct , <br />and coordination among several Government agencies. <br /> <br />1. Acreage Reduction. The irrigable. acreage in the D;str~ct will <br />be reduced from the originally authorized 75,000 acres to approxlmately <br />65,000 acres. <br /> <br />2. Ohfarm Measures and Technical A$sistance. The program includes <br />installation of onfarm structural features to improve gravity irrigation <br /> <br />25 <br />