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I I 9 en ,') '<::;;'1 (',J Wi t,,~} <'J ,- -, ''Z.,.. '-- ,',' 11 , - J I ~ i.1 Ii t' " : ~ -, I Ii j;.. ~ , , , A , ~ '} v was dCJ..m to one-half. The second and third years are years of change and production was near normal. '!he fourth year production was doubled. Up to four tons of hay per a=e has been raised with fertilizer and timely irrigation. The practice of meadcM ilTprove- ment with inteJ::mi ttent irrigation and drainage where needed should be studied and encouraged. Response to this type of treat:rnent will vary according to the condition of the meadavs. TedInical assistance, including when to irrigate, should be lffide available so that water may be saved and production increased. 'IWo methods of getting better irrigation water management in the study area have been tried. One method consisted of irrigation trials and derronstration. 'Ihe other involved an evaluation sheet with space for ccmrents or suggested ilTprovernents . It was decided to use the latter method - the evaluation sheets because of difficulties which developed in the trials and derron- strations. Attendance, other than governrrental workers, was usually poor at derronstrations and difficulty was experienced in arranging for land and water for the trials. (See Figures I and 2) During the course of this study the evaluation sheets were used in each of the COlll1ties in the Valley. It is felt that this method will give a sound base for detennining how big the job is as well as give those people worked with a better understanding of the things involved in g=d irrigation water managerrent. However, it is felt that no great strides will be made in extensive ilTprovement in irrigation efficiencies until technical help on a continuing basis can be furnished to each irrigator throughout the irrigation season. This might involve =centration, to begin with, on when to irrigate. Water budgets wuuld need to be worked out and field examinations lffide to schedule irrigation only when the crops need water. As a start, perhaps one man in each county could prove the value of the proposed method. As time goes on and requests for assistance develop, as many as five or ten qualified men per county could well be used in this work. There is no easy, silTple or cheap way of getting good irrigation water management applied to broad areas. Whatever is acccrrplished will take effort and time. SCS and other agencies have stressed water management in normal field operations. Acccrrplishments have been lffide, but any accelerated application of this practice will require qualified people working with the irrigators on a continuing basis. The cost of this work will be the cost of five men plus supervision, or about $60,000 per year to start. 25