to be a viable solution. To prevent the movement of the fish to the southern end of the canal, dr... more to be a viable solution. To prevent the movement of the fish to the southern end of the canal, drum screen fish barriers were installed. These barriers in association with favorable water quality conditions improved the situation. Water Quality Water quality monitoring of Closed Basin Division salvage wells, the Rio Grande, San Luis Lake, Head Lake and the conveyance channel continued throughout 2002. In addition to the standard water quality parameters, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide continue to be monitored to assist canal grass carp survival studies and dissolved nitrogen reduction endeavors, in cooperation with Reclamation's Denver TSC personnel. The Water Quality Laboratory participated in the Spring and Fall USGS Evaluation Program for Standard Reference Water Samples. The overall laboratory rating for these audits was between good and excellent.
Under present conditions, conservation largely occurs through changes in operations or adoption o... more Under present conditions, conservation largely occurs through changes in operations or adoption of conservation practices by individual operators. These decisions occur in response to varying combinations of institutional and economic factors that exist within any given region or basin. In areas where irrigation water is obtained by pumping from deep ground water aquifers, economic incentives for water conservation exist because practices that result in increased application efficiency can frequently be justified on the basis of decreased pumping costs. In addition, institutional incentives in the form of restrictions on the rate of aquifer depletion encourage the adoption of irrigation water conservation practices. In the alluvial watershed basins where water is obtained from surface diversions or shallow aquifers, incentives for adopting practices that decrease nonbeneficial consumptive use or result in saved water are somewhat limited unless the water conserved can be used to extend supplies under the terms of an existing water-right decree. The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act and its amendments is an example of an institutional initiative that provides economic incentives for water conservation. The intent is to reduce salt loading in the Colorado River by providing cost-share funds for irrigation system improvements that allow for decreased surface water diversions. The implications of irrigation water conservation are an important consideration, especially in watershed basins where water is derived from surface diversions or shallow alluvial aquifers. Under these conditions, wide-scale adoption of conservation practices designed to increase diversion efficiencies has the potential of altering basin hydrology by reducing the magnitude of return flows. Conversely, the implications of agricultural water conservation in areas of the eastern plains, where deep aquifers are the source of irrigation water, are largely positive because of the overall effect of prolonging the usable life of the aquifer and, thus, the economic viability of the region. Because of variation in potential impacts of irrigation water conservation, the task force concluded that policy initiatives designed to implement conservation should be based on how water is used at the basin level rather than the individual farm level. Also, impacts of water conservation strategies on interstate compact obligations must be considered.
Page 1. IRRIGATION WATER CONSERVATION: OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS IN COLORADO-A REPORT OF THE ... more Page 1. IRRIGATION WATER CONSERVATION: OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS IN COLORADO-A REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL WATER CONSERVATION TASK FORCE by DH Smith, Kathleen Klein, Richard Bartholomay, Isreal Broner, ...
to be a viable solution. To prevent the movement of the fish to the southern end of the canal, dr... more to be a viable solution. To prevent the movement of the fish to the southern end of the canal, drum screen fish barriers were installed. These barriers in association with favorable water quality conditions improved the situation. Water Quality Water quality monitoring of Closed Basin Division salvage wells, the Rio Grande, San Luis Lake, Head Lake and the conveyance channel continued throughout 2002. In addition to the standard water quality parameters, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide continue to be monitored to assist canal grass carp survival studies and dissolved nitrogen reduction endeavors, in cooperation with Reclamation's Denver TSC personnel. The Water Quality Laboratory participated in the Spring and Fall USGS Evaluation Program for Standard Reference Water Samples. The overall laboratory rating for these audits was between good and excellent.
Under present conditions, conservation largely occurs through changes in operations or adoption o... more Under present conditions, conservation largely occurs through changes in operations or adoption of conservation practices by individual operators. These decisions occur in response to varying combinations of institutional and economic factors that exist within any given region or basin. In areas where irrigation water is obtained by pumping from deep ground water aquifers, economic incentives for water conservation exist because practices that result in increased application efficiency can frequently be justified on the basis of decreased pumping costs. In addition, institutional incentives in the form of restrictions on the rate of aquifer depletion encourage the adoption of irrigation water conservation practices. In the alluvial watershed basins where water is obtained from surface diversions or shallow aquifers, incentives for adopting practices that decrease nonbeneficial consumptive use or result in saved water are somewhat limited unless the water conserved can be used to extend supplies under the terms of an existing water-right decree. The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act and its amendments is an example of an institutional initiative that provides economic incentives for water conservation. The intent is to reduce salt loading in the Colorado River by providing cost-share funds for irrigation system improvements that allow for decreased surface water diversions. The implications of irrigation water conservation are an important consideration, especially in watershed basins where water is derived from surface diversions or shallow alluvial aquifers. Under these conditions, wide-scale adoption of conservation practices designed to increase diversion efficiencies has the potential of altering basin hydrology by reducing the magnitude of return flows. Conversely, the implications of agricultural water conservation in areas of the eastern plains, where deep aquifers are the source of irrigation water, are largely positive because of the overall effect of prolonging the usable life of the aquifer and, thus, the economic viability of the region. Because of variation in potential impacts of irrigation water conservation, the task force concluded that policy initiatives designed to implement conservation should be based on how water is used at the basin level rather than the individual farm level. Also, impacts of water conservation strategies on interstate compact obligations must be considered.
Page 1. IRRIGATION WATER CONSERVATION: OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS IN COLORADO-A REPORT OF THE ... more Page 1. IRRIGATION WATER CONSERVATION: OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS IN COLORADO-A REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL WATER CONSERVATION TASK FORCE by DH Smith, Kathleen Klein, Richard Bartholomay, Isreal Broner, ...
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