WSP07426

• File Number: 8276.854
• Description: Palo Verde Unit - Colorado Salinity River Control Program
• State: CA
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 3/1/1981
• Title: Palo Verde Irrigation District Unit Special Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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The canal systems in the area were not designed for seepage control.

Less than 2 miles of the 295 miles of canals and laterals in the

district are concrete lined. Side slopes are generally covered with

a bermuda-type grass for erosion prevention and weed control which

attracts muskrats and gophers whose burrowing causes 10 to 20 canal

bank failures each year. While the distribution system has been well

maintained, most canals do not have modern diversion structures,

measuring devices, or other control structures,

The PVID is directly connected to the river system in that virtually

all inflow comes directly from the Colorado River, with the exception

of minor overland runoff caused by rain, and all out-flow enters the

river. Agricultural drainage from the District contains both salt

that is present in the diverted water and salt that is picked up

beneath the surface of the District.

While some lands require pump lifts to deliver water, most irrigation

deliveries are by gravity, Water is lost from the distribution

system by canal breaks, evaporation, seepage, and operational spills.

Operational spills occur as the result of fluctuating demands on the

system and time lags up to 12 hours between diversions into the intake

facilities and deliveries to farms. Excess water in the canals is

spilled directly back to the river or to drainage ditches.

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Bookman-Edmonston Engineering, Inc., was retained by the Water and Power
Resources Service in 1975 to gather data on irrigation efficiency and

agricultural drainage in the PVID. They were to make a preliminary

analysis of whether irrigation systems improvements might reduce salt

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