Show Soil Water Wafer Project Completed in Manti Monti By EARL J. J TUTTLE Soil Conservation Service The latter part of November November November Novem Novem- ber saw the completion of a large arg soil and water conservation conservation conservation conserva conserva- tion project that has been going going going go go- ing on intermittently for three years in the fields northwest of Manti Field ditches have been combined rerouted and relocated Water shares have been traded from one lOne ditch to another and measuring measuring measuring meas meas- devices have been in in- stalled Ditches have been lined with concrete pipe or open concrete lining During the winter of 1962 1962 63 the farmers in what is called the Westfield area decIded decided decided de de- de- de to do something about their water losses a and d erosion problems on their steeper ditches They began planning ways to modernize the water distributions system for ditches ditch ditch- es one through six the Lake water and water from two wells The problems associated with the combining and redistribution redistribution redistribution redis redis- of these waters were ironed out by the farmers A great deal of planning went into rerouting the Uie ditches so so that they might be used as ashead ashead ashead head ditches on as many fields as possible Ditches running through the middle of a farm were elim elim- Rerouting made possible possible possible ble the utilization of water from more than one ditch on any part of a particular farm Reorganization of irrigation systems on farms was made to make more efficient use of water and to coincide with the reorganization of the ditches The Thc farmers came to the Soil Conservation Service for help in working out the details details details de de- tails of their plan On the completion of the planning cost estimates were prepared and application was made Continued on page two DITCH PROJECT Continued from page one through the Agricultural Conservation Conservation Conservation Con Con- Program for cost cast sharing on the first phase of oft t the e project When spring came Cime surveys were made construction construction construction tion plans were prepared and construction on the project be be- gan In 1963 there was 1388 feet of 24 inch and feet of 15 inch concrete pipe installed from Manti creek west along the north street to the Lake ditch This carried the primary water for ditches one through six e eliminating the necessity of running t. t the e water down the gravelly old o creek channel The Lake itch Hitch and ditches one through four were were combined combined combined com com- and lined with concrete Parts of ditches three and five were lined with concrete The and partial flumes were installed so the water could be Ibe properly distributed to the different ditches In 1964 additional lining was installed by the group Concrete Concrete Concrete Con Con- crete lining was installed in ditches 3 4 5 and 6 In 1965 ditches 1 I 2 3 4 5 5 and 6 completed or their lining Also planned laterals and head ditches on farms were install ed The total project over the 3 year 3 year period has amounted to 1388 feet of 24 inch and feet of 15 inch concrete pipe Concrete lining amounted to feet miles using 1802 cubic yards of concrete Twenty-nine Twenty and seven partial flumes have been installed Cost sharing on the entire project has been made by the Sanpete County office Engineering was done by the Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with the Sanpete County Soil Cons Conservation District Dis Dis- trio The farmer associated with this project unanimously agree gree that it is a very worthwhile project It has taken takena a lot of time hard work and money to complete but the savings in water and erosion along the steeper ditches will in time pay the cost of the project |