Hydrologic Impacts of Improved Irrigation Efficiencies

by Steven K. Sando, Univ of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA,
John Borrelli, Univ of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA,
Donald J. Brosz, Univ of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

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

Abstract:

The Salt River drainage basin (Star Valley) is an agricultural watershed of 829 mi**2 (2150 km**2) in western Wyoming. Salt River stream flows were hydrologically analyzed and a comparison made of the flows prior to and after conversion to sprinkler systems. A test of mean monthly flows showed that spring flows increased significantly ( alpha equals 0. 05) by 58. 7% following the conversion to sprinklers. The Salt River flows were also compared with flows of the Greys River, a nonagricultural watershed immediately adjacent to the Salt River, using the double mass analysis. This test again showed higher spring flows and also lower fall flows were evidently a consequence of irrigation practices rather than climatological factors.

Subject Headings: Streamflow | River flow | Irrigation | Watersheds | Salt water | Rivers and streams | Irrigation systems | Wyoming | United States

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