Quantifying Capture and Use of Tailwater Recovery Systems
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 1
Abstract
The government has provided financial assistance on approximately 200 tailwater recovery systems in the state of Mississippi, and more in other states. The objective of this study was to quantify surface water capture and use within 31 tailwater recovery ditches (TWR) and on-farm storage reservoirs (OFS), so that conservation benefits could be evaluated. Water-level data were combined with system dimensions, rainfall data, and evaporation estimates to assess total gains and losses over the course of a year. Systems had a net positive balance of approximately 2,200,000 (2,200 ML) of captured surface water. Losses from evaporation and infiltration were between 8.68 and for TWR and 4.96 to for OFS. The highest losses occurred in the fall for TWR due to the installation cycle, whereas they were highest in the summer for OFS, driven by evaporation. Producers irrigated with an average of 41,000 (41 ML) (TWR) and 84,000 (84 ML) (OFS) of surface water. Irrigation levels were generally below thresholds set by the government for sufficient use.
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Acknowledgments
This study was funded by a grant from the 2014 Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station Special Research Initiative for the proposal titled “Quantification of Efficiencies related to Tailwater Recovery Systems.” The authors additionally wish to thank producers who were instrumental in allowing access to their systems: Mr. Trinity Long, NRCS District Conservationist, for assistance with locating willing producers; Mr. Paul Rodrigue, NRCS Engineer, for assistance with system dimensions and design guidelines; and Dr. Eric Collins for substantial assistance with dimensionality and domain decomposition methods.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 1 • January 2017
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 4, 2016
Accepted: Aug 5, 2016
Published online: Sep 16, 2016
Published in print: Jan 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Feb 16, 2017
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