Physical Evaluation of a Buried Drainage System

by Stephen H. Ottemoeller, Westlands Water District, Fresno, CA, USA,
William R. Johnston, Westlands Water District, Fresno, CA, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Development and Management Aspects of Irrigation and Drainage Systems

Abstract:

The drainage problem in the 600,000 acre (1. 5 million ha) Westlands Water District (District), located in the Central San Joaquin Valley in California is that of a perched saline groundwater table. The problem, which covers about 180,000 acres (72,000 ha) of the District, is caused by stratified heavy clay, silty clay and silty sand layers which retard downward water movement resulting in a perched water table located 3 to 10 ft (1 to 3 m) below the ground surface. A procedure was developed to flush the soil sediments from the drains and to evaluate the system to determine the extent and type of repairs needed to rehabilitate the system to meet, as nearly as possible, the original design specifications.

Subject Headings: Soil water | Clays | Drainage systems | Soil water movement | Soil treatment | Salt water | Water table | California | United States

Services: Buy this book/Buy this article

 

Return to search