Show I I NEED MEED FOR DRAINAGE Necessity in Irrigated Regions Rapidly Increasing Scarcely Any Land Which Formerly Produced Paying Crops and Later Became Affected That Cannot Cannot Can Can- not Be Reclaimed By CHARLES CHARrES P. P BROWN Drainage Engineer U. U S. S Department of Agriculture The general need for drainage of irrigated lands has Increased ased rapidly during the last twenty years The Tho most productive lands of these regions and nd those which were first brought under cultivation are In many instances instances In- In stances now abandoned or fit only for wet pasturage In Utah alone there are re approximately acres of irrigated Ir- Ir lands needing drainage Salt Lake Valle Valley has about acres of such uch lands and several other valleys from rom to acres each There are several localities in which of f the total irrigated lands 50 per cent ent are in such condition California Califor- Califor nia Ia Colorado Washington Montana 1 and nd Wyoming are likewise affected more or less and in time all of the newly Irrigated lands will have their problems of drainage It naturally devolves de de- olves upon the holders of such lands to o reclaim them To the end of developing developing devel- devel ping the best methods for accomplishing accomplishing pushing the reclamation of such lands the Office of Experiment Stations has conducted drainage Investigations In Utah California Oregon Washington Wyoming Colorado and Nebraska with results which Justify the conclusion con con- lusion that there Is scarcely any land landin landin in n the irrigated region which formerly produced paying crops and later became became became be be- came affected by excess of water or alkali that cannot be profitably reclaimed reclaimed reclaimed re re- re- re claimed provided the work is correctly correct- correct ly y planned and carried out These re- re suits also point to the possibility of reclaiming many virgin lands containing contain contain- ing ng an excess of alkaline salts 1 The extent and value of lands In n the arid west needing drainage make this a question of great tance ance Most of these lands once produced produced produced pro pro- abundant crops but now they lie le Idle or prod produce uce only a small portion por per tion lon of what they should Nearly every every every ev ev- ev- ev ery agricultural district in Utah Washington Montana Wyoming Colorado Colorado Colorado Col Col- orado and California has large areas in n this condition 2 The value of understanding the fundamental principles of drainage in preventing the increase of such conditions conditions con con- and reclaiming those lands now affected can hardly be overestimated mated Millions 1 of dollars would have been een saved In the west If the Injurious Injurious rious results of seepage water and alkali and the methods of preventing them had been known and Some knowledge of the nature and source of alkali together with Its relation to crop production Is essen essen- The reports of experiments in Utah Washington California and Colorado contained in in this bulletin aff afford rd proof that such injuries could have lave been prevented at a reasonable cost 3 Success s Is dependent upon correct correct correct cor cor- plans and proper construction of drains Careful and systematic surveys surveys surveys sur sur- veys and subsoil examinations should never be omitted The form of drain or section of ditch should be he chosen with reference to Its efficiency In the particular soil formation and water conditions 4 The subsequent care and treatment treatment treatment treat treat- ment of drains and lands will vill also determine determine determine de de- de- de termine the ultimate success In humid humid humid hu hu- hu- hu mid countries drainage systems once well laid take care of themselves and usually operate successfully for forman many man years Drainage systems in arid countries where irrigation is practised practised practised require watching and treatment after they are laid The care Is necessary necessary necessary essary in relation to surface waters and the treatment of lands necessary when they are arc affected with alkali |