| Show t. t F t a s fF I ew V 1 o ta r rt H dt BE t r D t p l rj w ff 1 Ditch Lining Lining- Proves Value in Many Ways Ted Rich technical engineer inspects and finds OK the cement lined ditch on the Porter Brothers farm farmin in Morgan County The ditch carries eight to ten second feet of water I Dy By C C. C E E. I Engineering Specialist Conservation District Lining of 1 irrigation ditches is Js Justified when benefits are greater great great- er than costs during the life Ufe of the lining Some of the be benefits are are savings of water reclamation i i of waterlogged lands reduced lower operation and maintenance costs costs decreased fall fail ure hazard better water management management management manage manage- ment and protection of public health Much of the water flowing in tin un I lined ditches is lost from seepage i evaporation transpiration by vegetables vegetables and leaks around head gates On an average 25 per cent to 35 per cent of the water entering entering entering enter enter- ing the unlined d ditch never never reach I es 03 the farm By or eliminating eliminating eli eU I the water loss in a ditch more water ater is available to irrl irrl- gate the land adequately or to Irrigate additional land Drainage Problem I S Seepage from ditches in most I I areas cause a drainage problem The land adjacent to ditches is I waterlogged with a resulting low crop production Drainage systems to correct the drainage problem are costly Lining ditches would reduce the quantity of seep water and consequently reduce the size I and cost of drainage facilities facUlties or eliminate them altogether Open lined ditches require about third one-third less way right space than unlined ditches and In some some cases as much as of the way right way required by an unlined unlined un un- lined earth ditch can be returned I Ito to cultivation and crop tion In the case of pipelines allI all of he the way right can be cul cuI I On an average operation and maintenance ce costs of lined ditches I are ore reduced by two to three three- I fourths of the costs of unlined d ditches Generally no maintenance ance costs are encountered for the first few years When maintenance ance Is Js required it can be scheduled sched ached during the off season when time and labor are available and without Interrupting irrigation The time money and effort required required re re- to efficiently operate an irrigation distribution system that has a lined ditch is much less leas than for an unlined ditch I Benefit Benefits Outlined I A lined ditch eliminates costly breaks caused by burrowing animals animals ani ani- mals I mals overflowing due to weeds and bank irregularities and wash outs due to excessive seepage and flooding In most cases the damage dam age to crops due to lack of water is greater than the cost of repairing repairIng repair repair- Ing th the ditch When ditches are lined the wa ter may be distributed easily fair ly and reliably to all water users The t end tall as well as the head end water users receive their wa wac ter promptly without dally variations varia in flow Clow This allows water users to plan and use their water I more efficiently Conditions that are conducive I to mosquito propagation are not Ukel likely to occur with lined ditches since seepage and week growth are reduced or eliminated A properly designed open lined ditch or pipeline will reduce the hazard to the Ute life of small animals and children The benefits already mentioned are associated with both open fined ditches s and pipelines Pipelines Pipe Pipe- lines have certain advantages in addition to ditches that are often of sufficient importance tt to justify the use of pipelines These advantages include more moreland moreland moreland land for cultivation no bridges or crossings need needed d. d less maintenance ance problems greater safety to animals and children and longer life Lined dit ditches hes in some cases cost less initially to install In other cases however pipelines cost less to In Install initially due to special design problems Special Special Special cial designs have to be m made mede de for lined ditches if certain soil ll or fo foundation conditions ar are are en en- countered Open Open lined Ditch w Water ter tables and drainage or flooding create special problems In design A ditch that carries wa ter in the winter has to to to- tobe be given special consideration in design Other things such as traffics traffic obstructions obstructions ob oh- slopes S- S Sand and so en cn present special design lem-j lem for lined ditches All AU of the things mentioned I have to be taken into consideration tion in planning and designing and an open lined ditch or a pipeline There is no one thing or consideration consideration consid consid- that will determine the choice between an oI ditch and a pipeline Both open- open lined ditches and pipelines have their place in solving conserva conserve tion problems and providing the benefits mentioned I u |
