Show Second Phase Of Valley Volley Drains To Get Underway Installation of a mile 21 drainage system tem tern near here will solve an old problem problem problem pro pro- blem of high water tables resulting from flOm previous and present irrigation the Bureau Bureau Bureau Bur Bur- eau of Reclamation reported recently IN A required environmental statement statement state state- ment on the drainage system bureau officials said the drains will increase the productivity of the land by lowering the water table R R. R W. W Gilbert acting director for the bureaus bureau's Region Four said 22 miles of the system already have been installed and a contract for another 45 miles willbe will willbe willbe be issued in a few weeks MR GILBERT invites the public to tomake tomake tomake make comments or suggestions on the system before April 12 when they'll be consolidated with all comments and sent to the commissioners commissioner's office in Washington Washing Washing- ton D D. D C. C for further action The statement said construction of the drains is a final phase of the Vernal Unit of the Central Utah Project with wilh Dam and Reservoir and the service canal as the main features IT PROVIDES supplemental irrigation water for previously developed lands in Ashley Valley and additional municipal water for Vernal and other communities When completed the drains will service service service ser ser- vice about acres of land BECAUSE OF inadequate rainfall during during dur duro ing the growing season farm operators irrigate extensively during the summer months As a result poorly drained soil becomes saturated and the water table rises in many areas to within one foot fool of the surface Between 1968 and 1970 two pilot drains were constructed on the project one an nn open ditch type and the other a buried pipe laid with open joints It has been decided to use the buried pipe with open joints INSTALLATION OF the drains will lower louver the water table on of project lands to a minimum of four feet below ground surface during the intensive irrigation season This will aid the growth of alfalfa al alfalfa HI al- falfa falCa which is a leading crop in the area Lowering of the table will allow flushing flush ing the soil and removal of excess salts sails which have accumulated near the surface sur Mil face in ht areas with a u high water table tuble problem the statement said DUE TO installation of the pipe and gravel gra some soil will be displaced and require removal al All topsoil and the necessary subsoil will be replaced The trench will bo bt filled slightly compacted con com leveled and the surface of the trench used for fOI normal crop production or other othel desirable uses THERE WILL bo bl some disruption dis of oC cropping and other agricultural uses of the construction right right-of way right over OWl which the till drains and drain access routes routt's will pass There is no irreversible or 01 irretrievable irretrievable 1 able bit commitment of resources in the tI drainage program with wilh the exception of conduction materials the report concluded con coni eluded ti 1 0 |