Show Sprinkler i project near Neola approved proved by water board An estimated gravity irrigation project in Duchesne County was was approved Thursday of last week by the State Board of Water Resources providing backers of the proposal can persuade federal agencies to don donate te half the cost T. T N N. Dodd Irrigation Co serves acres near Neola about nine miles north of Roosevelt The land now is flood irrigated from earth canals which lose considerable water to seepage The Board meeting in Vernal authorized one of two alternative proposals designed to save water and increase crop production on land served by the company It calls for piping water from the company diversion on the Uintah River and irrigating the land from gravity pressure sprinklers Annual costs casts of 01 the plan were estimated at compared com comp pared to benefits every year amounting to for a benefit cost ratio of 12 to 1 The discarded alternative would have conveyed water to stockholder delivery points in a low head irrigation pipe This would reduce seepage but would not change arm on irrigation practices The benefit cost ratio would be about 1 t to 1 I for the project Providing federal Resource Conservation Conservation Con Con- and Development or Limited Watershed money is obtained the Board would be asked to invest up to in the project Federal funds would amount to with from the irrigation company making up the balance The Board oard did not consider an Installment installment installment in In- purchase plan for the company com com- pany pony to buy the project from the State since it cannot go ahead until federal funds are made available Should a federal grant be obtained considerable work would remain before the company could ask the Board to commit funds on the project Major benefits to stockholders stockholder from the project are lower operation and maintenance costs better crop production and improved water use through seepage reduction and increased increased in in- creased efficiency T |