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Show Bertoch Suggests Ways To Prevent Water Loss Are you losing half the water in your canal half the water turned in at the head of the canal before it comes through the gate to be used on your farm? In asking the question of farmers of Duchesne county, Douglas H. Bertoch, chairman of the County PMA committee, emphasizes the need to do something some-thing about the "thieves" along the canal which are causing the loss. The first thief he mentions is "seepage." In many instances, he says, half the water is lost crossing a porous section of land. The best means to correct cor-rect this, he points out, is to line the canal with some material mater-ial which will stop the "leak." The Agricultural Conservation program provides assistance to farmers to aid in putting in such linings. Details as to the materials approved, the amount of assistance and specifications may be obtained at the county PMA office. Another thief is ."evaporation." ."evapora-tion." When the stream runs slowly or is held back by water weeds, the evaporation becomes serious and a considerable quantity quan-tity of valuable irrigation water is lost. Keeping the canals free of water weeds, other unnecessary unneces-sary obstructions, taking out needless bends and curves, are recommended as measures to reduce the loss of water by evaporation. Water often is lost because weeds and obstructions in the canal or ditch cause the water to back up and overflow the banks. |