Author
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Clemmens, Albert |
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Submitted to: Technical Conference on Irrigation Drainage and Flood Control
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 6/6/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Water is becoming a scarce resource and agricultural water users are under pressure to use water more judiciously. At the same time, many irrigation projects are in need of rehabilitation. Such rehabilitation should also focus on improving water measurement, control, and accounting, while providing more flexibility to users so they can implement water conservation measures. Operation of irrigation-water delivery systems can be improved by providing canal operators with better tools for determining control actions. One such tool is computerized automatic control of canal gates. This technology, however, is not routinely available to irrigation district personnel and consultants. The paper provides a progress report on this development of canal automation as a technology for modernization. These results should be of use to irrigation districts, consultants, and the Bureau of Reclamation. Technical Abstract: Modernization implies not just rebuilding but rather improving to meet new performance criteria. For irrigation water delivery systems, better customer service is high on the list of priorities. Agricultural customers are facing increasing competition, increasing water costs, and increasing production costs. Improvements in water deliveries can facilitate improved dfarm irrigation systems management. Canal automation is potentially one piece of the puzzle in trying to modernize and improve overall project performance. Canal automation theory has advanced substantially over the last decade. However, few of these advances have been implemented on operating projects because the theory has not been easy to apply. This paper presents the results of ongoing research to make canal automation more affordable and to integrate it with water delivery operations. |
