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Field Evaluation of Seepage Measurement Methods

Brockway, C.E. and Worstell, R.V. (1969) Field Evaluation of Seepage Measurement Methods. In: Myers, L.E. (ed.) Proc. 2nd Seep. Symp. USA-AZ-Phoenix, 1968/03/25-26.

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Abstract

Irrigation project design, operation and maintenance, and canal-lining research and
development require accurate and economical measurements of seepage rates. Drastically
new methods for measuring seepage have not been developed, so existing field methods
must be used. Each of these methods warrants an evaluation of its capabilities and
limitations. This paper relates experiences with ponding tests, seepage meters, and inflow-outflow
methods of measuring seepage from canals.

The results reported here represent the combined efforts of the University of Idaho
Engineering Experiment Station, the Agricultural Research Service, and the U.S. Bureau
of Reclamation.

The study was performed in 1965 and 1966 on a 4.5-mile reach of the A and B Irrigation
District Main Canal near Paul, Idaho. This canal is a part of the Minidoka Project
of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. It is 25 to 30 feet wide with a gradient of about
0.5 feet per mile and flows at a depth of 5 to 5.5 feet during the irrigation season. Soils
throughout the test reach are very uniform and consist almost entirely of Portneuf silt
loam. A compacted, slightly cemented silt layer from 12 to 24 inches thick intersects the
canal cross section throughout most of the the test reach. The flow system beneath the
entire test reach is under tension gradients due to an impeding layer near the soil surface
of the canal cross section. Devices for recording water measurement were installed by
the Bureau of Reclamation at the inlet and outlet and at all turnouts on the reach. A water
budget for the irrigation season was maintained on this reach for 3 years, and the loss
rates for 2-week periods were computed.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
NWISRL Publication Number: 0124
Additional Information: **A.K.A NWISRL PUBLICATION 124a**
Subjects: Research methodology
Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User: Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited: 20 Nov 2010 21:56
Last Modified: 15 Mar 2017 19:20
Item ID: 899
URI: https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/899