Sediment in Irrigation and Drainage Waters and Sediment Inputs and Outputs for Two Large Tracts in Southern Idaho

Brown, M.J. and Carter, D.L. and Bondurant, J.A. (1974) Sediment in Irrigation and Drainage Waters and Sediment Inputs and Outputs for Two Large Tracts in Southern Idaho. Journal of Environment Quality. 3(4):347-351.

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Abstract

Sediment inputs from Snake River irrigation water and sediment
losses back to the river were measured for two large irrigated tracts
in southern Idaho. There was a net sediment accumulation of 0.69
metric tons/ha onto the 65,000 ha Northside tract but a net sediment
loss of 0.46 metric tons/ha from the 82,000 Twin Falls
tract. Differences in sediment losses from the two tracts result
from the difference in sedimentation in the drain-ways of the two
projects. Sediment deposited in drains on the Northside tract
amounted to 4.5 metric tons/ha compared to 0.95 metric tons/ha
for the Twin Falls tract. Drains on the Northside tract were constructed
to grade whereas most drains on the Twin Falls tract are
natural channels with steeper gradients. The net amounts of sediment
eroded from farms within each tract were 4.0 metric tons/ha
for the Northside tract and 1.42 metric tons/ha for the Twin Falls
tract. This erosion loss from farms could be reduced within each
tract by more careful use of water and construction of on-farm
sediment retention ponds. This would also reduce the amount of
sediment returned to the river and lower costs of mechanically removing
sediment from drains and canals. Construction of sediment
retention ponds along main drains and reducing the amount of
surface runoff returning to the river would also reduce the amount
of sediment returning.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0285
Subjects:	Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Drainage water (see Percolation water) Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Runoff losses > Sediment Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:51
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2017 21:23
Item ID:	258
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/258