Hydrologic Impacts of Improved Irrigation Efficiencies
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 114, Issue 2
Abstract
The Salt River drainage basin is an agricultural watershed of in western Wyoming. Starting in 1971, several irrigation projects were completed that converted surface irrigation systems to sprinkler irrigation systems on approximately one‐half of the irrigated land. This conversion resulted in less total water being diverted from streams for the sprinkler system than the previous surface system. Salt River stream flows were analyzed to determine if there were differences between the sprinkler systems prior to and after conversion. Mean monthly flows in May and June increased significantly (58.7%) following the conversion to sprinklers. The Salt River flows were also compared with flows of the Greys River, a nonagricultural watershed, using the double‐mass analysis. The test again showed higher May and June flows. Lower fall flows were evidently a consequence of irrigation practices rather than climatological factors. Annual flood peaks increased significantly following the conversion to sprinklers. The mean annual flood peak increased by 47.0%.
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Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 114 • Issue 2 • May 1988
Pages: 334 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © 1988 ASCE.
History
Published online: May 1, 1988
Published in print: May 1988
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