WSP06975

• File Number: 8273.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control - Federal Agencies - Bureau of Reclamation
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1979
• Author: BOR
• Title: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project - Background Plan and Status Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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systems on 19,800 acres of land and provide technical assistance in irri-'
gatio~ water management. It also includes conversion to pressure irrigation'
systems on about 4,000 acres ~/ of citrus on mesa land.

3. Research and Demonstrations. These studies were initiatedio
demonstrate and document the effectiveness of improved practices in
incre~sing the efficiency of gravity irrigation systems and obtain data
useful for design and management of pressurized irrigation systems on
citrus.

4. Irrigation Management Services (IMS). The IMS program is a tool
for sqheduling irrigations to improve management of water on the farms and
throughout the water distribution system in the District.

~. Extens i on Educati on and In formati on. Contractual arrangements
with ~he .Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arizona, have been
made ;lor an accelerated extension education program in the District.

6. Water Bud ets and Irri ation Efficienc. Evaluation of onfarm
irrig~tion ef lClencies and rainage return f ows involves accounting for
all tHe water available in the essentially closed system of the Well ton-
Mohaw~ aquifer.

1. Distribution System Deficiencies. Capacity problems that limit
attaining higher irrigation efficiencies are being investigated by Bureau
of Redlamation and District personnel.

Acrea~e Reduction

Ten tHousand acres of irrigable land are to be removed from the District
of wh~chabout 4,000 acres were in Federal ownership prior to initiation
of the! reduction program. It was the objective to have the approximate
6,0001acres that will be acquired from private holdings appraised by the
end of, calendar year 1977 with negotiations continuing to obtain the
necessary warranty deeds on the full 6,000 acres shortly thereafter.

Land ~urchase contracts have been offered to and accepted by 85 landowners
for ap,'proximately 6,200 acres with an appraised value of over $10,500.,000,
compl~ting this effort. A breakdown of acquisitions shows that 4,600 acres
purch~sed were citrus lands and 1,600 acres were field crops or under.
develdped. Of this total, all were mesa lands (greatest water use). . About
8,300 'acres remain in production on the mesa, with approximately half in
citrus. Some of this remaining citrus land is being voluntarily replaced
by otHer crops, primarily alfalfa.

Onfarm Measures and Technical Assistance

The sds enters into contracts with eligible landowners and operators
(coope:rators) to install practices that will directly contribute to tHe

W No,W limited to 2,500 to 3,000 acres because of purchase of citrus lands
on: the mesa.

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