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Workshop description and registration |
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IRRIGATION SCHEDULING AND FLOW MEASUREMENT
When: Monday, September 8, 2008
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Chaffee County Fairgrounds
Salida, Colorado
Cost: $25 for DARCA/CWC members;
$50 for non-members
Four ways to register:
1. Phone: (970) 412-1960
2. Mail check or credit card information to: 1630A 30th St., #431 Boulder, CO 80301
3. Fax credit card information to: (303) 516-1202
4. Through Google Checkout
Brady McElroy, P.E., Water Management Specialist with USDA-NRCS, will begin the workshop by explaining the water requirements of Colorado crops and how different methods of irrigation scheduling can be implemented.
A review of irrigation water management concepts will be covered. That is, how much water is required for various crops during different stages of growth and at various locations. Sources and reference material on how to estimate or obtain this information will be provided.
Next, the concept of irrigation scheduling will be discussed, along with a comparison of different scheduling techniques of varying degrees of complexity. An overview of different irrigation systems types will be presented, including a discussion of how system selection can impact irrigation water management.
Finally, an overview of the technical and financial assistance options available from USDA-NRCS will be presented.
The next section of the workshop will be delivered by DARCA member, Steve Smith, with Aqua Engineering, Inc. This section of the training is essential for ditch company personnel interested in learning about the latest technologies of measuring, recording, and reporting water flows in canals and for on-farm delivery applications. This part of the workshop begins with flow measurement fundamentals: the common units of measurement and the operational benefits of flow measurement. Historical measurement devices, including the Parshall flume, basic operation of all critical flow measurement devices and details on measurement accuracy are on the agenda. Flow meters for piped systems will be presented as well.
The course will explain the design and installation of long-throated (Replogle) flumes and broad-crested weirs. These types of flumes have several advantages over the Parshall. They can be custom designed to the user’s needs, cost less to construct and are more accurate. Participants are invited to bring their laptop computers to class. WinFlume, a powerful, easy to use software program will be provided. The program allows users to perform a rating analysis on an existing flume or a new flume can be designed.
Recording devices of all types will be described and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, better known as SCADA, will be discussed and presented for flow recording and reporting. The technologies can provide monitoring and control of canal operations from a centralized location. Data and information, such as canal flows and reservoir storage data, can be easily posted to the canal company’s web site for management and shareholder access.
Handouts and lunch are included.
The Water Scheduling and Flow Measurement workshop is sponsored by: Aqua Engineering, Inc., the Colorado Acequia Association, the Costilla County Conservancy District, and the Rio Grande Water Conservation District.
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