The machine, pictured on page 16 and below was designed and
constructed by Bureau personnel in the Bureau's North Side Irrigation

will be in operation in the fall of 1958.

OKO KK

SPRAY RIG GASKET

Field Division shop at

a total cost of $2, 500.
The machine is now in
use on the Minidoka
Project and is estimated
to have provided a sav-
ings of $6,000 in one
year's time in cleaning
surface drains alone.

In addition to this sav-
ings, because of the ver-
Satility of the ditcher,
the project was able to
clean more miles of
ditch than would other-
wise have been possible.
A second machine is now
being constructed and

A section of 1-1/4-inch O.D, discarded spray hose makes an ex-
cellent gasket to prevent spillage around the filler opening of a bean spray
rig. This is the practical way Eugene G. Cakin, Tracy, California,
solved the problem of weed oil slopping out around the cap of the filler
opening and creating a mess of the rig and the bed of the pick-up truck
used in the spraying of weeds on the Central Valley Project.



Design safe plant facilities and equipment

Conduct periodic safety inspections
Physical plant and equipment
Work operations
Correct unsafe conditions and deficiencies found

Hold safety meetings regularly
For supervisors
For crew members

Maintain active safety committees
Of supervisors
Of workmen

Supervisors active participation in
Safety education
Training of crew members

Stress and maintain
Advance planning of work by supervisors
Standardization of work operations
Use of personal protective equipment

Preventative maintenance system on all mechanical
equipment

The Record reminds us that "neglect to follow some basic part
(of the outlined program) or to enforce safety methods aggressively would
have made the difference in (the accident record) in many cases. In effect
accidents are the result of our mistakes and errors that produce injuries
or equipment damage. The word 'safety' should not be thought of as re-
stricting or limiting our work activities; but rather where followed pro-
duces an active aggressive attitude in going about our daily work. It helps
to chart a course that will produce a minimum number of errors. Essen-
tially that is what we are trying to accomplish by our safety efforts. "

FROM THE RECORD IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD IMPROVE
OUR SAFETY PRACTICES. LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

HOR ROKK

FIVE SENSE WORTH
(Also borrowed from the Bureau's above quoted Safety Record)

Someone with a yen for mathematics has figured out that to earn
your living, you depend on your eyesight six times as much as your other
four senses combined. Of course, if you are a piano tuner, a tea taster,
or a perfume sampler it might be different. But for the average person
the relative value of your senses is as follows: Eyesight--87%,

12


Sodium chlorate should be stored in tightly
covered metal containers. The containers
should never be opened in buildings; or
placed in fields where there is any livestock.

Should sodium chlorate be spilled on the clothing,
such clothing, since it constitutes a dangerous
fire hazard when dry, should immediately be re-
moved and thoroughly washed. Rubber boots and
gloves should be worn by workmen when spraying
with the chemical.

A person should not be permitted to walk or ride,
or to move equipment of any kind through treated
areas, and livestock should be kept out of such
areas until after a heavy rain, as even slight
friction is likely to ignite the vegetation and
cause serious fire damage. Areas near buildings
where fires might result in loss of life or property
should not be sprayed. Smoking should be pro-
hibited while applying sodium chlorate or while
working around sodium chlorate containers,
equipment, or treated areas.

OR OK OK OK

22

GPO 840-841


Note

Installation Instructions

The radial gate arm_marked (A) is to be raised to a level posi-
tion, The 13" pin (B) is to be mounted on this arm with U bolts
mid-way between thé pivot pin of the gate and the face of the
gate. The bolt must be at the extreme back of the 20" slot as
shown. The remainder of the apparatus to be installed to fit
the above conditions. The gauge indicating gate opening should
be entirely above the concrete and extend some 4. 2' to 4.5!
above the concrete.

BOSTWICK DIVISION
COURTLAND CANAL
RADIAL GATE OPENING INDICATOR



GROUND ROD DRIVER AND PULLER
(Suggestion R2-58-224)

Driving and pulling a ground rod, driven to a depth of five or
six feet into hard pan, can be an exasperating and unsafe operation.

The puller and
driver devised by
Weston E. Briggs,
Central Valley
Project, Folsom,
California, sim-
plifies the opera-
tion.

Constructed
as shown for the
pulling and driv-
ing of 5/8-inch
rods, a similar
device constructed
for the pulling of
other rods, stakes,
metal fence posts,
etc., is a conven-

ient piece of equipment to have available.

Basically, the unit shown con-
sists of a lever with the fulcrum
near the end and a gripping device
cinch slips over the ground rod and
cinches up securely with a shearing
action when upward force is applied.
The gripping part of the device con-
sists of two pieces of steel plate
drilled with a hole slightly larger
than the diameter of the ground rod.
The top plate is flat 1/2-inch steel.
The bottom 5/8-inch plate is ta-
pered to 1/2 inch on the outside end
so that when it is forced up against
the upper plate it creates a shear-
ing action and makes a positive
grip on the rod. The plates are
slotted and mounted on a ring which
in turn is fastened through another
ring on the lever. The gripping

action is released when the upward pull is relaxed, making it possible

to "jack" the rod out of the ground.

The rod driver is a piece of pipe with a weighted end.

XK

OK

19


RUBBER RINGS REDUCE PIPE REPAIR COSTS
(Suggestion R2-58-172)

Where the inside
of a broken sump pipe
is accessible from the
sump, a smaller diam-
eter pipe with tapered
end and fitted with rub-
ber rings, as shown in
the photograph at left,
can be used to make a
quick and inexpensive
repair job.

This particular
method of repair, sug-
gested by Gilbert C.
Ricioli, and used by
the Tracy Operations
Office of the Central
Valley Project, Tracy,
California, avoided re-
moval and replacement
of about 60 square feet
of concrete.

The slight reduc-
tion in the size of the
pipe did not materially
affect the pump oper-
ation in this case.

RK KK

SODIUM CHLORATE AND SAFETY

The use of sodium chlorate as a weed control material is not
generally recommended because of its dermatitis and fire hazard prob-
lems. If used, sodium chlorate and other chlorate weed-killing com-
pounds should be handled with extreme caution. The following precau-
tions should be rigidly observed:

1. Sodium chlorate should not be permitted to come into
contact with the skin or the eyes. If it gets on the
skin or in the eyes, the chemical must be removed
immediately by thoroughly flushing the surfaces with
water.

21


MINIDOKA ONE-MAN DITCHER

Since the beginning of mechanized maintenance of irrigation
works, O&M people have been seeking a more efficient means of ditch
cleaning. An approach to the problem on the Minidoka Project, Idaho,
has been the construction, in the project shops, of the machine shown
below for use in cleaning small to medium sized canals, laterals and
surface drains.

The ditcher can construct or clean flat bottom ditches in natural
ground that are 2-feet deep, have a base width of 30 inches and 1-1/2:1
side slopes. The machine has a 10-foot wing spread and will elevate the
excavated material up to 4 feet on each bank. The ditcher, as shown in
more detail in the photograph on the following page, mounts on an adjust-
able tool bar (a converted dozer frame) on the rear of a D-7 Caterpillar
tractor. It is operated by cable and controlled by one man. The ditcher
can be maneuvered to within 6-inches of certain structures and is moved
about the project on a low-bed trailer.

Construction details of the ditcher are given in the drawing on

the following page, which was prepared by Elmer Casad, a retired Bu-
reau employee, Rupert, Idaho.

16


It has been found that gate position indicators geared to the gate
hoist offer some chances of error, through stretching of hoist ropes,
etc., which are not present when the device is attached directly to the
gate. However, Region 2 offers two devices which are geared to the
gate hoists and which they find to be quite accurate. The first position
indicator was developed, and is being used, on the Friant-Kern Canal,
Central Valley Project. The foot and half foot positions are marked on
the disc which turns with the drum shaft, the helical track carrying the
pointer arm. The disc is calibrated to show vertical gate opening.

The 18 radial gates at Nimbus Dam are equipped with revolu-
tion counter type position indicators which can readily be seen from the
gate hoist operating stations. The counters are connected to the pinion
shaft of the drum unit through
spur gears of 52 to 20 teeth
so that the digital reading
closely represents gate travel
to hundreths of a foot. The
gates were rated by computa-
tions, originally based on gate
opening, and converted to re-
late directly to the indicator
readings of these particular
gates.” Zero indicator read-
ing was made to correspond
to the point at which flow
starts under the gate. The
field reports that the operation
and accuracy of the indicators
have been excellent since their
installation in July 1957.



The two photographs on
this page are of a position in-
dicator designed for use at
Drop No. 1, All-American
Canal. As the first photo
shows, the operating deck is
a considerable height above
the top seal gate so that the
movement recorded is prac-
tically equal to the vertical
opening of the gate. In this
device a wire is attached to
the top of the gate and to the
maximum reading end of the
flexible tape scale. The tape
passes over a pulley at the
deck level and has a counter-
weight attached by wire to its
zero end to keep it taut. A
pointer is located beside the
pulley, in the upper right cor-
ner of the lower picture, to
indicate zero on the tape when
the gate is completely closed
and as the gate is raised the
amount of opening may be read.


oe
$

a a

—

“|

Main Support made froma 10' piece of MP-115 USS
steel piling one 10' piling will make two supports

2

3/8" plate steel with 20" x 13" slot to carry pin sup-
ported on gate arm to move pointer in vertical direc-
tion for entire gate opening

ee

flange cut from MP-115 steel piling to travel in flange
of main support to carry marking gage

1" x 3" strap to carry pointer which shows gate opening

©6@ © @ 0

24 gage galvanized metal 3}" x 5'-0" on which the gage
is painted with a tar base paint: This metal gage is at-
tached to a 2" x 4" timber bolted to main support as in-
dicated

Pin for 20" slot

©

BOSTWICK DIVISION

! on COURTLAND CANAL
N | > | RADIAL GATE OPENING INDICATOR
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|


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Another type of sta-

tionary scale position in-
a dicator is shown at left.
This device was devel-
oped for use on the Delta-
Mendota Canal, Central
Valley Project, by Mr.
Francis Lassell. The
scale is installed on the
dividing wall between
two gates and an adjust-
able pointer arm extends
from each gate to the
scale. Due to the ex-
posed position of the
scale there was a slight
tendency for it to vibrate
in the wind. It was calibrated to read vertical openings.

In the position indicator shown below, the scale is attached to
the face of the radial gate and is supported by an extension attached to the
top member so that when the gate is in the closed position the zero point
on the scale will be approximately at the deck level where the pointer arm
is located. One advantage of this device is that a standard enamel gage
can be used thus providing a weather proof serviceable gage which will not
need repainting. This device indicates the radial opening of the gate, al-
though by special calibration the scale could be made to show vertical
openings. Messrs. Icardi and Sturdivant are responsible for the develop-
ment of this indicator which is in general use on the Delta-Mendota Canal.



Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
RELEASE NO. 25

July, August and September 1958

LAST COPY - DO NOT REMOVE

LAST COPY - DO NOT REMOVE

CONTENTS

Position Indicators for Radial Gates
Concrete Block Cattle Guard

O.& M Safety

Five Sense Worth

Hinge Lock for Gates

Disposal of Used Motor Oil

Locking Device for Gear Type Screw Gates
Minidoka One-man Ditcher

Spray Rig Gasket

Ground Rod Driver and Puller

King Size Refuse Containers

Shasta Trolley Scaffold

Rubber Rings Reduce Pipe Repair Costs
Sodium Chlorate and Safety

LAST COPY - BO NOT REMOVE


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10


CONCRETE BLOCK CATTLE GUARD
(Suggestion NPS3-57-72)

Several installations of the inexpensive yet effective cattle
guard similar to the one shown in the photograph below have been made
by the U. S. National Park Service at National Monuments in the vicinity
of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Generally, the cattle guards have been found
to be effective as well as neat in appearance, although a few wise cows
have solved the. mystery of the guard and seem to be able to occasionally
cross it.

The installations have been quite successful and the economy
of them has caused them to be attractive for use in locations on roads
where traffic is light. The photograph on the following page is another
view of the guard shown above as it was used at the entrance to the South-
west Archeological Center.

The proposed cattle guard can be constructed in about one man-
day, provided it is not necessary to place it in solid rock. It is con-
structed by excavating a trench 8 inches deep, 4 feet or wider across
the roadway and 10 to 12 feet long for one-way traffic. Standard
8"x8"x16" concrete building blocks are snugly fitted into the trench with
the holes of the blocks placed up. It is important that the small end of
the holes in the blocks be placed on top to increase the shadow in the
hole, as this apparently has some psychological effect upon a cow.


The position indicator here shown is one of the simplest. Ply-
wood strips are calibrated to show radial movement of the gate with the
zero mark on the scale set at the top edge of the gate when it is in the
closed position. The plywood scales are mounted by anchor bolts to the
concrete walls of the structure which is the Wistaria Check on the All-
American Canal.

Shown here is another sim-
ple device for indicating gate
openings. A pointer attached
to the top of the gate arm indi-
cates the opening on a scale
painted on the wall of the struc-
ture. The scale could be ex-
tended above the wall on a board,
if desired.



KING SIZE REFUSE CONTAINERS
(Suggestion R2-58-208)

Bottom dumping, fireproof containers in use at Shasta Dam and
Powerplant, Central Valley Project, California, simplify the handling of
refuse and have the added sanitary advantage of eliminating the manual

handling of the refuse.

Developed by H. C. Van
Dolah, the containers are of
sufficient capacity to hold all
trash and refuse accumulat-
ing in the area between the
twice-a-week pick-up and
disposal periods.

As shown, the bottom
dumping also simplifies the
handling of the containers
with a small crane and their
dumping. Rollers on the bot-
tom of the containers provide
an added convenience in move-
ment to desired locations.

#R KOK K

SHASTA TROLLEY SCAFFOLD
(Suggestion R2-58-209)

When it was decided
that flood lighting was to
be installed at Shasta
Dam, two employees
suggested the trolley
scaffold pictured at left
and on the cover of this
issue of the Bulletin.
The excellent ideas of
O. E. Stapleton and
Troy Wolverton saved
the Bureau $2,500 in
direct savings and pro-
vided a much safer
operation.

The photographs
present general views
of the scaffold, but if
construction details are
desired, write the Director, Region 2, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation,
Sacramento, California.

* RK KK

20


Radial-Gate-Opening Indicator - Courtland Canal - Bostwick Divi-
sion. View of painted gage with the gate in the closed position.

Radial-Gate-Opening Indicator - Courtland Canal - Bostwick Divi-
sion. Overhead view of indicator showing installation of pin and
clearance between device and gate arm.

2


Hearing--7%, Smell--3.5%, Touch--1.5%, Taste--1%. If you are on an
eye-hazardous job, at the shop or at home, you can't afford to gamble
your eyesight. Wear eye protective equipment because it is smart to do
so. Remember:

You can walk on an artificial leg.
You can eat with an artificial hand.
But you can't see out of an artificial eye!

KKK OK K

HINGE LOCK FOR GATES
(Suggestion R2-58-69)

Unauthorized entry to the rights-of-way for canals in the Central
Valley Project, California, is prevented by each gate on the canals being
secured with a penalty lock. The project has experienced some difficulty,
however, with unauthor-
ized persons lifting the
gates off the hinge bolts
to gain access. The
locking device suggested
by Owen J. Stearns,
Canal Maintenanceman,
Fresno Operations
Branch of the project,
shown at left has elimi-
nated this problem.

The lock is used
on gates of the Friant-
i Kern and Madera Canals.
4 }— The lock consists of a
3/8- or 1/2-inch diam-

+ Gate hinge lock : eter steel rod driven
y | | i i about 3 inches into the
Av bt Ld ‘ wooden post supporting
the gate. The rodis

Una PY : then welded to the up-
' right lug of the hook
— ; 7 ~ bolt which supports the
bof
-4-Gate hinge lock

gate hinge. The hinge
bolt is prevented from

/ | turning, the gate hinge
a a — from being displaced,
---Weld | | and consequently, the
| gate cannot be lifted
I from the hinge bolt.
t

KKK KK

13



LOCKING DEVICE FOR GEAR TYPE SCREW GATES
(Suggestion R5RG-58-5)

A steel block bolted to the base of a screw gate as shown below
was suggested by Henry C. Lange, Ysleta Field Branch of the Rio Grande
Project in New Mexico and Texas, as a means of locking gear type screw
gates to prevent tampering by unauthorized persons. Fitting the steel

block between the
ae yy spokes of the gear
nd wheel prevents the
gear, which oper-
ates the stem, from
turning.

e DAR ae i 7 7,

A 3/4-inch bolt
was used, but it can
be almost any size.
The bolt nut is fitted
into a steel shell
through which the
bolt passes so that
only a socket wrench
can be used to turn
the nut. In the case
shown, the shell
was enclosed on two
sides only since the
base of the gate
formed a closure
on the other two
sides. However,
the shell or cup
can be four sided
or circular. The
essential parts are
shown in the lower
photograph. The
bolt is spot welded
to the steel block.

To remove the
block it is necessary
to have a socket
wrench generally
not available to
everyone. The de-
vice replaces chains
and locks which have
not been satisfactory
in preventing unauthorized people from operating wasteway gates.

OK OK KOK

15


POSITION INDICATORS FOR RADIAL GATES

The need for position indicators on radial gates has been met in
a number of ways by operating personnel on our projects. Some of the
indicators have simply been marks painted on the wall of the structure and
others have been much more complicated. Many of the indicators which
have been used with considerable success indicate the radial movement of
the gate while others are equipped with mechanisms which record only the
vertical component of the gate movement. The latter type have the advan-
tage of indicating directly the relative change in gate opening area while
the readings of the indicators of radial movement must be converted to
show the actual vertical movement of the gate. It is entirely possible,
however, to calibrate the discharge ofa gate on the basis of radial move-
ment and a radial scale may be calibrated to show vertical opening.

Various studies have been made of position indicating devices with
the view of possibly adopting one for installation on all of our radial gates
at the time the gates are installed. However, with the varying types and
sizes of gates and the different mounting conditions it is apparent that each
position indicator would have to be calibrated individually to show vertical
movement, and it appeared that too much expense would be involved in
trying to accomplish that sort of thing under a construction contract. It
was decided, therefore, to let the project operators devise their position
indicators according to each one's needs and liking, and as an aid towards
that end we are suggesting in this article several different types of devices
which have been proven in use.

The first indicating device to be described is one developed on the
Bostwick Division, Kansas River Projects, and bears Suggestion No. R7-
57-151, submitted by Randall W. Cleveland. This device which records
the vertical gate opening, was fabricated and assembled in the project
shops from a piece of sheet piling, a piece of plate steel, a 1}-inch pin and
other scraps of metal. The project operators are quite happy with the per-
formance of this device and recommend it to others. Photographs and draw-
ings of this device follow.

Radial-Gate -Opening
Indicator - Courtland
Canal - Bostwick Divi-
sion.

View showing means of
attaching the main sup-
port (Part No. 1) to the
concrete wall. The gate
is open about 5 feet.



OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Release No, 25
July, August and September - 1958
INTRODUCTION

This bulletin, published quarterly, is circulated for the benefit
of irrigation project operation and maintenance people. Its principal pur-
pose is to serve as a medium of exchanging operation and maintenance in-
formation. Reference to a trade name does not constitute the endorsement
of a particular product, and omission of any commercially available item
does not imply discrimination against any manufacturer. It is hoped that
the labor-saving devices or less costly equipment developed by the re-
sourceful water users will be a step toward commercial development of
equipment for use on irrigation projects in a continued effort to reduce
costs and increase operating efficiency.

Your attention is called to the articles on Safety" on pages 11
and 21. One article points out that O&M operations experienced a much
higher accident frequency rate during 1957 than any other Bureau of Rec-
lamation operation--suggesting that O&M forces should review their activ-
ities to assure that all elements of a good safety program are receiving
attention. The second article cautions operators in the use of Sodium Chlo-
rate in weed control work. You may also be interested in the short safety
reminder on page 12 concerning eye-safety.

In order to insure proper recognition to those individuals whose
suggestions are published in this and subsequent bulletins, the suggestion
number as well as the person's name is being given. All Bureau offices
are reminded to notify their Suggestion Awards Committee when a sugges -
tion is adopted.

OK KK OK

Division of Irrigation Operations
Commissioner's Office
Denver, Colorado



A fence may be termi-
nated in a less expensive
structure such as a single
braced post, as shown in the
drawing on the preceeding
page, at each end of the ce-
ment block, prepared by the
National Park Service to il-
lustrate the installation sug-
gested by Milton J. McColm
of that agency.

The cost of the guard in
the Santa Fe, New Mexico,
area constructed as shown
on the drawing is estimated
to not exceed $100. The cost
of the block will vary from
$20 to $50, depending upon
the roadway width.

If further information
is desired, write the Direc-
tor, Region 3, National Park
Service, Santa Fe, New Mex-
ico.
(Photographs illustrating the
article were taken by Turney)

eR KKK
O&M SAFETY

The safety record of operation and maintenance forces is not
outstanding, to say the least, according to the Bureau of Reclamation's
publication Safety Record, for the first quarter of 1958. The Record
summarizing the accident record of Government Forces for the year
1957, showed that O&M operations had an accident frequency rate of
18.6, which was the highest of the six major categories of work per-
formed by Government Forces. Irrigation operations with 13 percent
of the total man-hours accounted for 27 percent of the accidents. The
18.6 rate is over twice the Bureau average of 9.1 for the year 1957.

However, it is 5,2 points lower than the 23.8 rate experienced in 1956.

Quoting from the Record, it is suggested that O&M forces:

" - Should review their activities to insure that all
elements of their accident prevention program are receiving
full attention."

The Record lists the elements that make up the Bureau's basic
safety program as follows:

IL


DISPOSAL OF USED MOTOR OIL
(Suggestion R2-58-195)

The device used to collect,
store and dispose of used oil drained
from motor vehicles, and shown at
left, is a suggestion of William Cot-
triel of the Cachuma Project, Oak
View, California.

The handy multi-purpose device
was fabricated from a commercial
lubricant drum, a base equipped with
casters, several pieces of standard
size pipe and fittings, and a shop
constructed metal pan. A standard
hand-operated barrel pump to which
a 3-foot length of small diameter
hose has been connected, and a noz-
zle complete the unit.

Oil is collected and stored in
the drum until it is filled and must
be disposed of. The oil is used to
spray weeds or gravelled surfaces
in the vicinity of the project shops to
keep down the dust. The base which
is fitted with casters carries the unit
easily over hard surfaces.

ek RE

WIRE ROPE GUARD ON CHECK STRUCTURES

The wire rope installed on the
check inlet chute at Station 1490 on
the Wyoming Canal, Riverton Proj-
ect, Wyoming, was provided as a
safety measure. In handling stop
planks a man may grab the wire rope,
if necessary, but the space required
to handle the planks is unobstructed.

A center post is to be provided
to lend more stability to the wire
rope.

OK KK OK

14