Photograph No. 4, at left,
shows a modification of the
original tool. It is equally
effective. The modification
has the disadvantage of
being bulkier.

The joints can be cleaned
during the growing season
when the canals and reser-
voirs are normally in use.
Photograph No. 5 below,
shows the tool being used to
clean joints in the lining on
the Friant-Kern Canal.
These tools have been used
for ten years to cut grass
from the joints, with little

Photograph No. 4
noticeable damage to the filler in the joints, or to the concrete.
This tool, or modifications of it, is recommended for cleaning vege-

tation from joints between concrete panels of canal and/or reservoir
linings.

P214-0-56039

Photograph No. 5

17


BRAKES. Never jam on your brakes. Start to pump your brakes long
before it's necessary to stop or slow down. You will lessen the
chances of going into a skid, and it will be easier to steer.

GEARS. If you have a stick shift, start your car in second gear. It
will give you better traction. Too much power may only cause your
wheels to spin. Don't gun your motor.

OTHER CARS. Keep a greater distance than normal between you and
cars you are following. If the car ahead of you goes into a skid you
have a better chance of not skidding in the same place. Keep a sharp
eye on approaching cars, particularly on turns. You may have to do
some intricate driving to avoid them if they lose control.

LIGHTS. If it is snowing or sleeting, drive--even in the daytime --
with your headlights on iow beam. Your parking lights will be useless.

TIRE EQUIPMENT. The National Safety Council urges drivers to use
reinforced tire chains on glare ice and snow.

CAR EQUIPMENT. Be sure your brakes are evenly adjusted, with
unworn linings. Uneven brakes can throw you into a skid even when
you're careful. Be sure your car is properly aligned and the wheels
balanced. If you do a great deal of driving on open highways, carry
a shovel (army trench shovels are good), a pail of sand or a traction
mat, tow chains or ropes, windshield scrapers or defrosters that
plug into your lighter.

Your windshield wipers should be adjusted, with proper tension,
clean blades; the muffler and tailpipe should be free of leaks; your
lights in proper working order.

ok ok ok ok Ok
THOUGHTS ON MANAGEMENT

A leader is a man of unquestioned integrity, morally and mentally.
He holds his personal honor in all things above all things. He is
also honest mentally. He does not delude himself in appraising other
men or his own situation. Facts are facts, and are so interpreted,
and not made to appear in a rosy light to prevent him from facing

the headaches which the hard cold truth imposes.

It is extremely important to ask two questions about a man being
considered for a position of leadership:

First, will he grow up, or swell up, with his new power and
authority?

Second, will he broaden out, or flatten out under his new
responsibilities?

11



Parker Dam located on the Colorado River approximately 150 miles
upstream from the Mexican boundary. Between Parker Dam and the
Mexican border we have three of these radio stream gages which
assist us to meet our daily delivery requirement to Mexico.

By utilizing the existing VHF radio river control radio network, means
to provide an on-call stream gage report at the Bureau's Regional
Office in Boulder City, Nevada, have been accomplished with this
equipment. As there is no ac or primary power available at the stream
gage site, it is necessary to operate the radio from a direct-current
battery. With the use of an ampere-hour meter to measure the dis-
charge rate of the battery, after approximately 4 days of operation the
engine generator will automatically start and recharge the nickel-
cadmium battery. A water level device is used for determining the
water elevation with a conventional float and perforated metal tape.

At anytime one desires to know the water elevation in the Colorado
River at the Taylors Ferry site, he can dial three digits on the con-
ventional telephone dial at the Regional Office in Boulder City and

this will be transmitted over the VHF radio network and received at
the Taylors Ferry site. The stream gage radio will then transmit

the water elevation in hundredths of a foot. He may also dial three dig-
its to start the engine generator set and monitor the channel to deter-
mine if it is running. Another number may be dialed to stop the engine
generator set. I have witnessed all of these functions performed from
the Regional Office in Boulder City.

Subsequently, another stream gage radio reporting unit was installed
at the Adobe Ruins site downstream from Blythe, California, Again
it was required to operate the radio from a battery since no primary
power was available, In this installation, a thermal-electric gener -
ator was used instead of an engine generator set. This thermal-
electric generator produces a direct current from a flame which in
turn charges the battery. Two 50-pound bottles of propane shown
(Figure 2, page 25) are installed at this site. One 50-pound bottle of
propane lasts for approximately 1-1 /2 months to maintain the present
charging rate required for the battery. When one bottle of propane
becomes empty an automatic valve switches to the other propane bottle
and, therefore, the two tanks furnish a 3-month supply. In addition,
another unit has been installed at Yuma, As primary power is avail-
able at this site auxiliary generators are not required.

By dialing three digits at Boulder City, you can select any of the three
stream gages and the water elevation will be transmitted from that
location immediately. Audio tones are used for transmission and a
series of tones is counted to determine elevation. These gages are
normally interrogated three times daily. They have been installed
for over 3 years and are providing good service.

A similar radio reporting stream gage was developed by K. McMurray,
of Casper, Wyoming, and was incorporated in their operations

21



"DIPPY DUCK"--SAFETY PROGRAM

Water safety has again been emphasized this past summer, and at the
quarterly meeting of the Imperial Dam Advisory Board in El Centro
on June 20, 1966, public information officer William Stadler reported
on Imperial Irrigation District's water safety program. This pro-
gram was conceived and initivted in 1966. It carries the canal safety
message to kindergarten and lower grade school children throughout
the valley. The District believes it has been successful and is con-
sidering strengthening and expanding it to include all aspects of water
safety.

A set of informational material is used in the campaign. The pro-
gram is announced by the posting or the distribution of handbills,
similar to that below, through the cooperation of school officials and
others. An illustrated pamphlet designed to appeal to younger chil-
dren also is distributed. The four pages of the pamphlet prepared
for this past season are shown on the following pages. A 10-minute
recorded message from Dippy Duck and a film strip accenting an oral
message rounds out the program.

The Dippy Duck slogan has been cleared with the film industry in
Hollywood and was reported as being the only remaining legally usa-
ble slogan involving a duck motif. The Imperial Irrigation District
has no objection to others utilizing the motif and if additional infor-
mation is desired in setting up a program of this kind, write the
Regional Director, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Boulder City, Nevada.

DIPPY
DUCK

coming to

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT



POST PULLING WITH AN "A"-FRAME1/

If you're looking for some way to pull those posts, particularly if they
are located where you can't get equipment in, look no further. Your
problem has been solved by Mr. Joseph Hebda, Prince William Forest
Park, National Capitol Region, National Park Service.

SKETCH NO. 1

DETAIL

77 See Detail

This easy to fabricate post puller
consists of a length of 2-1/2 inch
water pipe bent at two points toform
an equilateral triangle 3 feet long

to the side, and two hooks mounted
one above the other by bolts between
two pieces of flat steel extending
upward from the apex, as shown

in the sketch and detail at left.

The upward pulling power results
from a pull on one hook rocking

the frame from one angle over to
another.

The hooks face in opposite direc-
tions, the lower one facing the
post to be lifted while the other
faces the truck or winch. A snatch
chain or cable from the lower hook
around the post near the ground
line and the pulling cable to the
upper hook gets action in a hurry.

It has been reported that this
easily made, inexpensive rig has
already saved considerable time
and money on one job of removing
abandoned telephone poles without
damaging the poles in any way. It
has proven so effective that a heav-
ier A-frame of channel iron is now
being fabricated to do bigger jobs.

1/Reprinted from an article in
Plowback, Issue No. 1, dated
May 1963

18



The justification of expenditures of funds requested to install this
equipment was water conservation and improved water delivery serv-
ices to the users. The District delivered to the farms through meters
in the excess of 90 percent of all the water received at Mile Post 49. 3.
Approximately 7 percent is lost due to seepage in the 37 miles of
unlined canal and evaporation in 75 miles; approximately 3 percent is
handling losses. Deliveries to the farms this past 5 years have been
in excess of 320,000 acre-feet per year.

In conclusion, the benefits that may be derived from automation of
irrigation systems are reduced operating cost and a more efficient
operation. Development of reliable remote control equipment has
progressed so rapidly that dependable systems are now available.

24



your system with an immediate alarm of any abnormal condition, and
instant control of remote diversion gates or facilities. For example,
if we have a telemetering alarm system for a diversion structure in
a canal and a jam causes a rising forebay water level, an alarm is
transmitted immediately indicating a high forebay water level. Upon
receipt of the alarm, a man can be dispatched to the structure imme-
diately, thereby eliminating or reducing the amount of wasted water,
potential breaks in the canal, etc. Without this alarm reporting fea-
ture or constant surveillance you would not be aware of any abnormal
condition until a ditch rider drove by and noticed it visually.

The terminology, automation, constitutes an extremely broad area.

To be more specific, we should define a few of the more common words
associated with automation as related to irrigation systems. First,

is automatic control. This is a control scheme that performs all
functions by itself automatically without supervision. Second, is
remote control or supervisory control. This is a means where an
operator at one location can perform control functions at a remote
location with remote control equipment and a communications channel.
The operator performs his desired functions with pushbuttons or key
switches on a control console.

A term frequently used is telemetering. It provides a means for
metering from a distance or a remote location by transmitting it to

a local station and indicating or recording the quantity measured. A
remote control system consists of the remote control equipment and

a communication channel. The communication channel can be a
microwave system, a radio system or an open-wire telephone line.
All remote control equipment will operate on any of these different
types of communication channels. Costs of communication channels
vary greatly. A microwave communication channel is the most expen-
sive and requires a great density of channels before it can be justified.
VHF (very high frequency) and UHF (ultra high frequency) radio chan-
nels are relatively economical and the costs for leased open-wire
telephone lines vary from $1 to $4 per month per mile.

On page 25 and 26 are some pictures illustrating the various types of elec-
tronic equipment presently in use for automation of irrigation systems.

Figure 1, page 25, shows a selective, on-call radio reporting stream
gage. It consists of a transistorized VHF mobile radio unit, a nickel-
cadmium battery, a propane -operating engine generator set, a transis-
torized digital decoder and accessories. It is installed at Taylors Ferry,
California, near Blythe, California, on the Colorado River and was de-
veloped by R. Bellis of Boulder City, Nevada.

In controlling the flow of the lower Colorado River, we have a treaty
requirement with Mexico and are required to make a daily flow com-
mitment into Mexico. This is accomplished in part by releases from

20


CONTROL OF VEGETATION IN DUMMY JOINTS1/

Grasses and broadleaved weeds germinate and grow in soil which has
been deposited in the dummy joints of concrete canal linings, as shown
in Photograph No. 1 below. This vegetation is unsightly and difficult
to deal with. Various approaches to its control have been considered
in the past. On the large Friant-Kern Canal in Region 2, high rates
of monuron and other soil sterilants sprayed into the joints have failed
to give satisfactory control, possibly because rains wash the treated
soil out and new soil is deposited. Foliar sprays of weed oil, dalapon
plus 2,4-D, and paraquat will kill the vegetation growing in the joints,
put the dead plants are left, making this approach unsatisfactory from
an aesthetic standpoint.

Photograph No. 1

Experience on the Friant-Kern and Delta-Mendota Canals in Region 2,
has shown that the weeds will grow where very little soil is deposited
in the joints and that they are best removed manually with a cutting
tool attached to a long handle. This method has been used for sev-
eral years. Utilizing this approach, only those joints in which weeds
are actually growing need be considered.

Prior to 1956, diamond shaped hoes, which could be obtained at the
hardware store, were used to remove unwanted vegetation; however

I/Prepared by the Fresno Field Division, especially for this pub-

Tication and printed with permission of the Regional Director,
Sacramento, California.

15


FLOAT-ACTUATED CAM CONTROLS AND
CHANGES CANAL WATER LEVEL

The device described in this article for automatic control and the chang-
ing of the water level in canals was designed by William R. Turmon,
of the Fresno Field Division, Fresno, California. This two- or three-
stage control device is designed to maintain constant water levels
within checks, reservoirs, over Parshall flumes or weirs or wher-
ever a constant water level is required and is controlled by gates.

All three stages are designed in parallel electrical circuits.

1. Microswitches, through float-activated cams.

2. Key transfer relays which select the operating stage according
to the magnitude.

3. Direction of water-level change from check target.

The device is operationally different from the "Little Man" in that it
allows three preset gate travel stages with respect to time. The
interval times are "in-built" through the time clock drive motors.
The pulse duration which energizes the gate hoist motor is adjustable,
e.g., stage one produces a selected time pulse duration to the motor
every 5 minutes.

Photographs No. 1, 2, 3 and 4, are views of check and device as it is
installed in one of the checks on the Friant Kern Canal. A sketch on
page 9 presents more detail.

The float tape pulley and target drive motor are mounted directly to
the main shaft. The floating cam shaft is locked to the main shaft
through gearing from the motor pinion. This design arrangement
allows a selected target shift to accompany normal operating condi-
tions, i.e., a change of flow in the canal will override the device
simultaneously while a new target shift is in process.

This device can also be used to dewater or lower the level of the check
at the rate of 0.52 foot in 24 hours, as shown by the sketch of the
"Float Actuated Cam and Level Change Device. "

The device as it is now being used is set to operate the center gate of
three 18-foot gates. During normal flow, the cams controlling stage
one are set to call for gate operation if the water level changes + .03
foot. The second stage will operate if the level changes + . 06 foot
and the third stage operates when the level changes + .09 foot from
our target level. The clocks are set to raise or lower the gate . 04 foot
during a 5-minute cycle, .065 foot during a 2-minute cycle, and .13
foot during a 1-minute cycle. The third stage has seldom operated.
When the rate of flow through the check is low it has been found that
the most satisfactory operation is to eliminate the first stage. The
second stage moves the gate .04 foot each 2 minutes and in the third


Water in Canals is...To Make
Electricity

Water in Canals is... Not for Fish-
ing or Playing



Don't
go near
the
water

in canals
(Stay out—Stay alive)



it was soon found that where many weeds were encountered the soft
steel hoes wore out rapidly and had to be discarded. In 1956,
Mr. Owen J. Sterns of the Friant Section, Fresno Field Division,
suggested bolting a serrated mower sickle section to an aluminum
pipe handle. The hard steel sickle section lasted considerably
longer, and was easily replaced when worn beyond usefulness. This
tool is shown in Photographs No. 2 and No. 3.

P21 4-D-56041

Photograph No. 2

Photograph No. 3

16


IF SOMEONE FALLS

IN A CANAL... KEEP CALM
———

Don’t jump in to help. = Tell the
person to...Swim with the cur-
rent. Get close to the bank. Dig
into the bank or hold on to the
weeds. = Try to find a stick, rope,
wire, board to hold out to the per-
son in the water. If you can’t find
one, use your belt, shirt or pants.
pe Keep your own feet dry so you
don’t slip. Send someone for help
but leave one person to help the
one in the water. TM* Try to stop
passing cars or trucks by shouting
or waving for help.

Remember, The Law Says You Can
Be Punished by A Fine of Five
Hundred Dollars ($500) and By
Imprisonment For Six Months for
Swimming In A Canal (Ordinance
No. 269)

RESCUE BREATHING

a

Place the person on his back.
Clear the throat. Tilt his head back.

“3
6

;

Insert your thumb in the side of
his mouth, pull the jaw forward.

a

Pinch his nose shut.

Take a deep breath and breathe it
into his mouth until you see his
chest rise, then let him exhale.

Keep breathing into his mouth
until he starts to breathe by him-
self or until a doctor arrives.

IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT

o



2 years ago. One is installed on the North Platte River below Sinclair,
Wyoming; one on the Medicine Bow River above Seminoe; one on the
Sweet Water River; and one near Glendo, Wyoming. The only differ-
ence in these devices from the Arizona installation is that these uti-
lize a tone control for selecting the desired gaging station instead of

a dial code system.

The Littleman control is widely used on the Central Valley and Columbia
Basin Projects for controlling the main canals. This is an automatic
device developed by project personnel for maintaining a constant water
level, usually above checks. It consists of floats controlling micro-
switches and timing clocks and is a relatively trouble-free, simple
device. Some installations use probe contacts in place of float con-
trols. Characteristic of automatic gate control devices is a tendency
to hunt. Hunting is overcontrolling in both directions and the gate con-
tinually moves. With the addition of timeclocks on these devices, this
hunting tendency has been eliminated. A desired forebay water eleva-
tion is set and the Littleman control device opens or closes the canal
gates to maintain this water level. The Central Valley Project has had
10 years of extremely successful operation with these devices, and they
are relatively inexpensive.

Three pumping plants on the Wellton-Mohawk Project are being con-
trolled with remote control equipment located in the water users
headquarters some 10 miles distant, Figure 3, page 26 is a view
of the control panels in the office headquarters. The system has
been in operation for approximately 10 years and has also proved

to be very successful. The communication channel between the
office headquarters and the pumping plants is a leased telephone
ine,

A recent remote control system has been installed on the Salt River
Project in Arizona, It is solid state digital equipment manufactured
in Phoenix, Arizona, The remote control equipment controls a
principal bifurcation of their canal system. It is located approxi -
mately 20 miles from the main dispatching office in Phoenix. At

the bifurcation there are two gates which are controlled, There
are three telemetered water levels; one below each gate and one for
the forebay. Gate height positions are also telemetered. The com-
munication channel between the diversion structure and the dispatch-
ing office is a VHF radio channel. Gate positions and water level
elevations are displayed as a visual digit quantity on the control console
shown (Figure 4, page 26). To obtain these readings, the pushbuttons
are depressed to command receipt of desired information. Gate con-
trol is initiated by depressing either a gate-lower or gate-raise push-
button, and then requesting the telemeter position for the position

of the particular gate. Water level is transmitted in hundredths of
afoot. An alarm is transmitted in case of exceedingly high forebay
water level as a result of debris plugging the gates, floodwater, or
other causes. The approximate cost of this type of equipment, with

22


Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation

IRRIGATION OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

BULLETIN NO. 58
October, November, December 1966

LAST COPY - DO NOT REMOVE
LAST COPY - DO NOT REMOVE

In This Issue:

“Dippy Duck”--Safety Program

Float-Actuated Cam Controls and Changes Canal Water Level
Driving on Ice and Snow

Fabricated Tie-on Moccasin

Two Workers Succumb to Fume Poisoning from Silver Solder

Operations \\
National Safety Council Data Sheets WN
Control of Vegetation in Dummy Joints ww

Post Pulling with an “A”-Frame y\ e
Automation of Irrigation Systems \o W


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stage the gate is moved .13 foot each minute. This two-stage opera-
tion gives us close control with more frequent gate operation. Similar
devices may be built using different timing devices and clock setting
to provide the type of control desired.

If further information
is desired regarding
this device, please
write to: Chief, Fresno
Field Division, Bureau
of Reclamation, 2014
Tulare Street, Fresno
California 93721.

Photograph No. 1--
Rocky Hill Check--
Mile 79.25 Friant-
Kern Canal

P214-D-56047

Photograph No. 2--
Recorder Well--
located immediately
upstream on right
bank. Note auto-
matic gate control
device.

P214-D-56046



Canal banks may not hold you. Fast
currents and mud or concrete bot-
toms make it hard to stand or walk.

IT IS STUPID, DANGEROUS AND
AGAINST THE LAW TO SWIM
OR PLAY NEAR CANALS
SS

Tell your parents where you will
be playing and be there.

Watch out for younger children
near canals.

If you see children playing near
canals, warn them then tell an
adult. You may save Their lives.

Don’t play games near a canal.
Don’twalk on canal orditch banks.

Don’t play on bridges or gates
where you could fall in the water.

Know how to swim and enjoy
yourself in the nearest public pool,
but never try to swim in a canal.
It’s dangerous and against the law.



ELECTRONIC CONTROL OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS1/
By
P. R. Hanson

Initially we should briefly analyze why we are interested in electronic
control of irrigation systems. Obviously because there may be a
remote possibility that some electronic equipment or system may be
available that could be used in your area for improving your opera-
tions. In order to improve your operations it is necessary for you

to have an "awareness" of the potential of automation. It is also
essential to have an awareness" of the potential of automation in
order to have a progressive efficient water district.

As for the benefits that may be derived from the electronic control
of irrigation systems, the primary benefit desired is cost reduction
and in this case reduced operating cost. With labor and wage rates
on the rise, your operating costs measured in dollars per acre -foot
are also on the rise, unless you can offset this with labor saving
automatic or electronic control equipment.

Studies made by the Bureau of Reclamation for operating costs in
power operations determined it was necessary to utilize electronic
control equipment to achieve labor savings because of the increase
in wage rates. A comparison of wage rates using a base of 100 per-
cent for the year 1945 indicated that in 1950 the wage rate was 200
percent of the base. In 1958 it was 300 percent and on January 1,

it was 390 percent. These studies showed that one man - an oper-
ator - on the payroll represents an amount of $800,000 for a repay-
ment period of 50 years at 3 percent interest. One position manned
around the clock for 24 hours a day, with 3 shifts, 7 days a week,
requires essentially 5 men on the payroll because of vacation, holi-
days, etc. Therefore, this position costs approximately $4 million
in repayment ability. This is a measure of the savings which can be
realized with automatic or remote control equipment.

In evaluating costs of electronic control systems, it is necessary
to anaylze the systems in terms of present worth or capitalized
costs. For example, if one man is costing $5,000 a year and con-
sideration is being given to an operation for 25 years, the present
worth or capitalized cost of manual operation is $87,000; so if you
can install facilities which will perform this function for $20,000,
the savings is $67,000 less maintenance costs.

The other benefit is a more efficient operation. Although this is
indirectly related to cost, it is concerned with the immediate area
of reducing the amount of wasted water, a constant surveillance of

I/This article was reprinted from the Irrigation Operators' Workshop
Lecture Notes, 1966, Division of Irrigation Operations, Office of Chief
Engineer, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center, Denver,
Colorado.

19



PX-D-32669

Figure 1

Selective, on-call, transistorized VHF radio reporting stream gage
at Taylor's Ferry.

PX-0-38078

Figure 2

Thermo-electric generator for the on-call radio reporting stream
— gage at Adobe Ruins, Arizona.

25


With automation becoming more popular on many irrigation systems,
we are including some up-to-date information on the subject in the
article prepared by Mr. P. R. Hanson, beginning on page 19. This
article was prepared as a lecture for the 1966 Irrigation Operators!
Workshop, in the Office of Chief Engineer, Denver, Colorado.


MOCCASINS HELP IN PENSTOCKS
(Suggestion R5RG-66s-1)

Mr. Leroy F. Schaaf of the Rio Grande Project Office, reports that
in the project's preventive maintenance program it is important to
periodically check the penstocks and scroll cases ina powerplant.
These inspections are accomplished by various personnel. While in
the penstocks moving around is very hazardous due to the wet floor,
particularly if entry is made soon after the penstock is draining.
There is always a wet slick residual left on the surface of the scroll
case, that creates an unsafe condition underfoot. Precautions have
to be taken when performing these inspections because of the possi-
bility of injury.

A loose tie-on moccasin, fabricated to prevent slipping, was sug-
gested by Mr. Schaaf. The moccasins are made of metal lath and
plastic strips as shown in the photograph below. The type of mate-
rial used makes the moccasins inexpensive to fabricate. Canvas,
web belting or some other material could be used for the sole. The

Care should be taken in the use of the moccasins to avoid damaging
painted metal surface.

P24-503-1377

12


c. All employees using the cadmium solder should be properly
indoctrinated as to the hazards.

d. Adequate ventilation for soldering operations should be pro-
vided where possible and personal respiratory protective equip-
ment, approved for protection against metal fumes or dust, can
be used for temporary or supplemental control.

e. All employees having repeated exposures to cadmium dust or
fumes should have preplacement and periodic medical evaluation.

--R. J. Searle, Regional Safety Officer
Region 4, U.S. Bureauof Reclamation,
Salt Lake City, Utah

3K OK OK Ok ok

NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL DATA SHEETS

The National Safety Council has recently published revised or new
technical data sheets on the subjects listed below. Copies of these
data sheets (by numbers shown in parentheses) may be obtained from
the National Safety Council, 425 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago,
Dlinois 60611.

Chlorine (207 Revised)

Tick Bites (228 Revised)

Power-Actuated Hand Tools (236 Revised)

Motor Trucks for Mines, Quarries and Construction (330 Revised)
Power Lawn Mowers (464 Revised)

Arsenic and its Inorganic Compounds (499 Revised)

Drilling in Open Pit Mines (573)

Projected Still Pictures (574)

Cutting and Clearing Vegetation (575)

Hauler-Loaders (576)

Sewer Pipe Cleaning (577)

Selenium and its Compounds (578)

Applications of Electric Plug and Receptacle Configurations (579)
Asphalt Roofing Manufacture (582)

ok OK Ok ok ok
Whoever is out of patience is out of
possession of his soul. Men must not
turn bees, and kill themselves in
stinging others.

oR 3k Ok OK Ok

14


IRRIGATION OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
Bulletin No. 58

OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, AND DECEMBER 1966
INTRODUCTION

The first article in this issue of the Bulletin concerns a Canal
Safety Program conceived and initiated last year by the Imperial
Irrigation District, to carry a canal safety program to the kinder -
garten and lower grade school children throughout the Imperial
Valley. The program has been so successful consideration is
being given to strengthening and expanding it to cover all aspects
of canal safety. Although this is the end of the irrigation season
in many areas and the end of concentrated efforts toward water
safety for this year, the ideas presented may help in planning for
next year. A general description of the program starts on page 1.

Starting on page 6, is a description of a two- or three-stage water
control device designed to maintain constant water levels within
checks, reservoirs, over Parshall flumes or weirs or wherever a
constant water level is required and is controlled by gages. Photo-
graphs and a sketch of the device are included.

Beginning on page 10 is an article written by Beata Gray giving the
finer points for driving on ice and snow. Also, you will want to
read the Thoughts on Management printed at the bottom of page 11.

A suggestion from Leroy F. Schaaf of the Rio Grande Project Office,
for a fabricated tie-on moccasin, to eliminate the possibility of
injury due to slipping while moving around in penstocks, can be
found on page 12.

An article by R. J. Searle, Regional Safety Officer, Region 4,

Salt Lake City, Utah, on fume poisoning from silver solder oper-
ations, can be found on pages 13 and 14. Also, recommended con-
trol procedures and precautions to prevent acute or chronic exposure
to these fumes are given.

Recently published, revised, or new National Safety Council tech-
nical data sheets that are obtainable from the Council are listed on
page 14.

Controlling the growth of vegetation in joints in concrete canal lin-
ings is a difficult maintenance problem on many projects. The way
it is being done by the Fresno Field Division on the Central Valley
Project in California, is described in an article beginning on page 15.

A device constructed for pulling posts that is being used by the
National Park Service is described in a short article beginning on
page 18.



the same number of control and telemetering functions, is approx-
imately $10,000 per terminal. The transistorized VHF radio equip-
ment cost is approximately $700 per terminal. This diversion
structure is now operated by the central dispatcher and provides

an efficient operation allowing instantaneous change of flows from
the bifurcation. Previously, a resident operator was required 24
hours a day at this structure.

At Coachella, California, one of the latest remote control systems
has been installed for the Coachella Valley County Water District.
The Coachella Valley County Water District is approximately

150 miles from Imperial Dam, which is a diversion structure on
the Colorado River for the All-American Canal and the Coachella
Branch. The waterflow is entirely by gravity 38 miles down the
All-American Canal to Drop 1, a diversion structure for the
Coachella Canal, which is 123 miles long. Imperial Irrigation
District has the operation, maintenance, and water control from
Imperial Dam to Mile Post 49,3 in Coachella; the Coachella
Valley District is responsible for the last 74 miles.

The remote control begins at Mile Post 49. 3, where a digital-type
system is installed. The remaining 14 canal and 6 distribution sys-
tem locations use the analog-type system. If water delivered to the
District is accurately measured, the remaining problem is maintain-
ing constant water surface elevation upstream of the check gate. The
remote control accomplished at each of the 21 locations varies from
3 to 28 functions. The functions consist of telemetering water levels,
high level alarms, and power fail alarms, controlling check gates
and lateral gates and start and stop of pumps.

The service area is 100, 000 acres with an all-underground pipe system
of 485 miles of 12- to 84-inch-inside-diameter pipe with a delivery of
3 cfs per 40 acres.

Remote control panels are located at the headquarters office. The
contractor supplied and installed all remote control and communi-
cations equipment, and also installed all electrical equipment; that is,
motors, gear boxes, conduits, wiring electrical control panels, and
made the connection between the remote control equipment and the
electrical equipment. There was electrical power at only three loca-
tions; therefore, powerline extensions were necessary. The three
methods of communications used--VHF radio, microwave, and leased
telephone lines--were determined by a cost comparison.

The telemetering equipment located in the field is pedestal mounted
in bulletproof metal cabinets. Concrete block buildings, 14-foot by
11-foot by 8-foot, were constructed at three locations to house com-
munications, telemetering, and electrical equipment.

23



The Irrigation Operation and Maintenance bulletin is published quar-
terly, for the benefit of irrigation project people. Its principal pur-
pose is to serve as a medium of exchanging operation and maintenance
information. It is hoped that the reports herein concerning labor-
saving devices and less costly equipment and procedures, developed
by resourceful project people, will result in improved efficiency and
reduced costs on the systems of those operators adapting these ideas
to their needs.

To assure proper recognition of those individuals whose suggestions
are published in the bulletins, the suggestion number as well as the
person's name is given. All Bureau offices are reminded to notify

their Suggestions Award Committee when a suggestion is adopted.

oe Ok Ok ok ok

Division of Irrigation Operations
Office of Chief Engineer
Denver, Colorado

We are in the process of review-
ing our mailing list, in reference
to this Bulletin. If the mailing
card sent to you for this purpose
has not been returned, please do
so as soon as possible.

ON THE COVER:

Dippy Duck figure used by the Imperial
Irrigation District, California, to
promote their canal safety program for
kindergarten and lower grade school
children throughout the Imperial Valley.



PX-D-34236

Figure 3

Control panels for the remote control of the Wellton-Mohawk Pumping
Plants No. 1, 2, and 3. These controls are located in the district
headquarters at Wellton, Arizona.

Figure 4

Control console unit for the Salt River Pro

ject supervisory control
unit.

26

GPO 831-462


DRIVING ON ICE AND SNOW
By
Beata Gray1/

On Sunday night Jack's week-end host persuaded him to stay over and
take the milk train the next morning. "Absolutely no trouble. We'll
drive you to the station and you'll be back in plenty of time to get to
work.

But during the night it began to rain. Not easy, wet rain. This was
January and the rain froze as it fell. When Jack got up at 5:30, the
countryside--and the roads--were covered with glare ice. Jack's

host said, "I won't take the car out in this. But I'll call the cab. He's
used to this kind of weather." But the local cab driver refused to come
until the sand trucks had gone through. Jack was frantic. When Dave
said, "Don't worry. We'll get Joe Gibson up the mountain. I've seen
him out in all kinds of weather."

Joe turned up 15 minutes later ina jalopy tied together with baling
wire. And off they went. It was astonishing. Joe handled that piece
of junk as though it were alive--and it responded. Not another car
was moving, but there were several in the ditches and skid marks all
over. When they got to the station, Jack said, "how did you do it?"
And Joe answered, "Well, you just gotta know how. You gotta drive
differently under different conditions. But the most important thing
is, you can't force it. You can't drive against the car and what it
wants to do."

This is sort of like a cook describing a recipe--"A dollop of this and
some of that.’ It gives you a general idea, but not much information
to goon. The best background is experience, but getting the experi-
ence can be a nightmare. However, there are some points it's handy
to know about driving in the winter.

STEERING. Don't oversteer. If you have power steering, be very
careful not to react too quickly--you can lose control. But with any
kind of steering equipment, all turns should be anticipated and the
wheels turned gently.

SKIDDING. Anticipate skid traps. Don't pour on the gas on slippery
patches. Don't brake if possible; reduce power. But if you do go

into a skid, steer in the direction of the skid, not against it. Remem-
ber that ice at 30° is twice as slippery as at 0°. Even if the pavement
is clear, remember that when the road is overhung by trees, ice
lasts longer. As it does on bridges.

I/Reprinted by permission of the editor from an article appearing
in Supervisory Management, February 1966 issue.

10



TWO WORKERS SUCCUMB TO FUME POISONING
FROM SILVER SOLDER OPERATIONS

Two cases of fatal poisoning, one in Utah and one in California,
neither involving Reclamation employees, were traced to improper
use of silver solder containing cadmium. A second non-fatal inci-
dent was also discovered in California.

Investigation of silver solder being used by industry revealed some
with a 90 percent cadmium content, with the average being from 12
to 16 percent. This solder, when overheated in soldering operations,
produces cadmium fume concentrations far above the recommended
atmospheric concentration (8 hours) of 0.1 milligram of cadmium
oxide fume per cubic meter of air, and in many cases without proper
ventilation, produces chronic or acute exposures.

The main problem encountered is that not all silver solder contains
cadmium, but many types containing cadmium have no label or have

a loose small tag which reads, "contains cadmium - admits dangerous
fumes if over-heated."

The seriousness of this problem can be seen from the American Indus-
trial Hygiene Association's Hygiene Guide Series on cadmium which
rates the severity of the cadmium hazard as:

High for both acute and chronic exposures. Single exposure to
cadmium fumes can cause severe lung irritation, which may be
fatal. Most acute intoxications have been caused by inhalation of
cadmium fumes at concentrations which did not produce warning
symptoms of irritation. Continued exposure to lower levels of
cadmium in air has resulted in chronic poisoning characterized
by irreversible lung injury (emphysema) with abnormal lung
function and urinary excretion of a specific low molecular weight
protein which may be associated with evidence of kidney dysfunc-
tion. Clinical evidence of the cumulative effects of cadmium may
appear after exposure has terminated and the disease tends to be
progressive.

Recommended control procedures and precautions to prevent acute or
chronic exposures are as follows:

a. Check all silver solder now being used to determine cadmium
content. If solder does contain cadmium, determine if a solder
of lower cadmium content or if one devoid of cadmium can be
substituted.

b. If solder containing cadmium is required, it must be properly
tagged as to the cadmium content and the hazard involved.

13