special attention such as seal coating with shellac. Doors and windows
will often require more thorough cleaning and usually some crack filling.

Perhaps the easiest method of complete paint removal for large
areas is by burning with a paint burner and scraping while the paint is
still hot and soft. Remnants of brittle burned paint can be removed by
scraping or wire brushing after the paint has cooled. All paint should be
scraped from corners and edges such as the bottom side and ends of sid-
ing because at these places the defective paint will usually be quite thick.
Precautions against fire will, of course, be required during burning.

Following the general rule, paint chosen for maintenance painting
should be of the same type as originally used (unless complete removal of
the old paint has been performed). If the deterioration of a chalking-type
paint has not progressed too far any exposed wood can be touched-up with
primary paint and then a single coat of finish paint applied at a minimum
coverage rate to provide the desired appearance and protection. A two-
coat application should be made if sizeable areas of wood are exposed and
the old paint is generally quite thin. In this case, the first coat should be
a primer type or thinned finish paint to produce greater penetration of the
base. The top coat should be applied without thinning and coverage in both
cases should be as specified in Federal Specifications, or by the manufac-
turer.

It is noted that in the painting of dwellings the greatest tendency
to economize is exhibited by attempting to cover the largest possible area
per gallon of paint. Within reasonable limits, superior and longer lived
protection is provided by thicker coatings. It will be found that application
costs far exceed material costs and thus conservatism in materials will
often prove to be false economy.

Certain conditions peculiar to a particular location may be en-
countered which adversely affect the durability of any coating used on the
exterior paint of dwellings. For example, outside paint on housing units
which were located at high elevation and where low humidities and temper-
atures prevail during winter months was observed to deteriorate very
rapidly. In this case, moisture released in the interior of the house by
ordinary household operations (heating, washing, etc.) escaped the house
in part by traveling into and through the siding on the exterior and conden-
sation of moisture vapors in attics and walls contributed to continuously
damp conditions in the wood. No ordinary coating can be expected to re-
sist such exposure. To combat early deterioration of paint coatings and
also to prevent other damage to the structure the fundamental cause of
paint breakdown must be isolated and remedied before normal coating per-
formance can be obtained.

Immersed or Buried Wood

Wood to be buried or in contact with water is usually treated with
creosote or pentachlorophenol. With effective treatment a minimum of



slopes to reduce the missing corner area, or gravel blankets upstream
from the structures may be specified.

We are probably safe in saying that future cutoffs will give less
trouble than the old ones, but we still have to live with the old ones and
it is our hope that the ideas expressed here will be of some use to opera-
tors in doing that.

KOK KOK

COOPERATION IN WEED CONTROL

Region 6 of the Bureau of Reclamation in the annual report of the
weed control program in that region discusses the commendable coopera-
tive weed control efforts of the States, Counties, Irrigation Districts and
Water Users on the Belle Fourche Project in South Dakota and the Sun
River Project in Montana. On the Belle Fourche Project, the irrigation
district performs the weed control work on the project delivery system
and drains; whereas, the County, State and the landowners have weed-
control measures of their own, using mostly tractor-mounted spraying
equipment. Weed-control chemicals, in addition, are made available to
the landowners and water users by the irrigation district at cost.

The Greenfields Irrigation District on the Sun River Project goes
one step farther. Chemicals for use on ditch and drain rights-of-way on
the water users' farms are furnished the water users in that district with-
out charge. During the past year, 1,240 gallons of 2,4-D was furnished
the water users at a material cost to the district of $2,666.00. Actually,
however, with the water users doing the spraying, money was saved by
the district. On the basis of a district labor cost of $3.90 per gallon for
application of the chemicals, the water user contribution in the form of
labor would have been about $4,836. Teton County furnished the water
users with four 100-gallon spray units mounted on two-wheel trailers and
these and one unit furnished by the irrigation district were loaned to any
water user who wished to cooperate. For annual and perennial weed con-
trol the Greenfields Irrigation District sold to the farmer at $2.35 per
gallon, 1,016 gallons of 2,4-D. On the whole, this part of the weed con-
trol program has been most effective.

There are distinct advantages in providing chemicals at no cost
to the water users for the control of weeds on ditch and drain rights-of-
way, in the opinion of Region 6 and the region also feels that much can be
accomplished by selling the chemicals to the water users at cost for their
own use. Such a practice brings about a better understanding of the weed
control problem by the water users, encourages their cooperation, and
in most instances, it is believed, will probably result in a saving to the
water users in lower district maintenance costs. On both the projects
cited, the regional office reports that the conscientious and determined
water users have made progress in the control and eradication of annual
and perennial weeds.

KOK KOK

12



shop. The bands are made 6-inches wide, with a 5/8-inch by 8-inch bolt
to clamp, as shown. See Figures No. 4and5, They use these on 12-,
15-, 18- and 21-inch pipe, and the band is made long enough so that there
is 3 to 4 inches overlap in place over the rubber band. For the 21-inch
pipe, the steel band is made in two halves, which of course requires two
bolts. They also have a 12-inch wide steel band which is used on diagonal
cracks, which could not be covered by the ordinary band. These have
three clamping bolts.

Figure 6

As a safeguard against corrosion, the steel band is covered with
mortar as shown in Figure No. 6. Thus far Mr. Lanning, the manager of
the District, claims that only 2 in over 1,000 of these type repairs have
had to be redone. The estimated cost for this type of repair is $25.00
each, which includes labor, materials, excavation, and backfill. An im-
portant advantage of this type of repair is that the line does not have tobe
taken out of service, and the repair can be done quickly. Onan average
day, three men can make 8 or 9 repairs.

2K Kk

22


The new boom may be constructed to any desired length.
Counter-balancing is accomplished by a weight supported at the boom
pedestal and attached approximately at the mid-point of the boom by
cable. The boom was made of two-inch galvanized pipe with a one-inch
feed line attached by means of metal straps. The valve for controlling
the feed line is a single-pull quick-acting type that is controlled by a rope
by the operator. The one-inch feed line can be extended four feet beyond
its present length when used as a burner.

The counter-weight attached to the cable weighs 85 pounds and
the weight on the end of the operating end of the boom is about 78-1/2
pounds. A schematic drawing showing the dimensions of the boom counter-
weight, mounting pedestal, etc., is shown on the facing page.

The two photographs, above, show more details of the counter-
weighted boom. The photograph at left is a rear view of the boom in posi-
tion to travel. At right the pedestal and arrangement of the counter-
weight can be seen. The method of attaching the supply line to the feed
line can be seen in both of the photographs as well as the rope whicn the
operator uses in opening the quick-acting valve of the feed line.


25-years service can be expected. The application of such treatments on
large items such as piling, transmission line poles, etc., requires special
plant equipment, and general practice is to replace deteriorated wood with
new, freshly treated wood rather than to attempt retreatment. A cresote
preservative conforming to Federal Specifications TT-W-556b, Type II,
should be used in the pressure treating of wood in contact with soil or
water. Wood Preservative, TT-W-572, Type I, Composition A, is sat-
isfactory for hand application to wood in most other exposures such as sub-
flooring and the framing below the subflooring.

A limited maintenance program is sometimes indicated. For ex-
ample, treated fence posts near parking areas can be scarred to depths
that will leave untreated wood exposed to attack. Such damage should be
treated with a liberally brushed-on coating of Wood Preservative. Any
structural modification of treated structures resulting in exposure of un-
treated wood as by saw cuts should be treated in the same manner.

Coating service record cards may be kept on structures contain-
ing treated wood although the interval between inspections can be as long
as 5 years except in such cases as mentioned above. These cards can be
of value in predicting when replacement of the treated wood will be neces-
sary.

OR KKK
REPAIRING LEAKS IN CONCRETE PIPES

The Lindmore Irrigation District, a unit of the Central Valley
Project, California, has a distribution system consisting of 123 miles of
concrete gravity pipe lines with associated junction boxes, valves, stand-
pipes, flow meters, etc.,
serving 26,627 acres, The
system is comprised of
four main laterals, two
pumping plants, and moss
screen structures at the
head of each lateral.

One of the greatest
and most expensive prob-
lems with concrete pipe
lines is the repair of leaks
in the unreinforced mortar
joints, and occasionally a
cracked pipe. Repairs
must usually be made while
the line is inuse. The
method of repair employed
by the Lindmore Irrigation
District is described in

19


in Figure No. 1. It is necessary to remove enough material so that two
men will have ample room to work under and around the line as shown in
the photos. The old mortar band is chipped away with miner's picks. In

Figure 4

Figure No. 3.)

so doing, the leak occa-
sionally becomes worse,
and in order to slow down
the flow, lead wool is
tapped into the cracks.
Sometimes itis necessary
to keep the hole pumped
out, for which they use a
diaphram type pump. The
pipe is then thoroughly
cleaned in preparation for
the band. First, the rub-
ber strip is centered over
the crack, pulled tight
around the pipe, and held
in place until the steel
band can be slipped over
it. See Figure No. 2.
Finally, the bolt on the
steel band is tightened
until the leak stops. (See

The rubber used is unvulcanized retread rubber, commonly
called "camel back, "' and is manufactured by the OK Rubber Welders, of

Denver, Colorado. It
comes in 6-inch wide by
1/2-inch thick strips in
rolls varying from 50 to
60 pounds each and costs
around 28-1/2 cents per
pound. The rubber is cut
so that it just reaches
around the line after being
pulled tight. The ends of
the rubber strip are mi-
tered and fastened with
hog rings after stretching
tight around the pipe.

Regarding the steel
bands, the District buys
14-gage sheets and has
them cut and rolled locally,
in lots of 200 bands. The
tabs for the clamping
bolt are made and welded
in place in the District's



Interior Woodwork

Interior woodwork when properly coated with paint and varnish
should remain in good condition for many years inasmuch as the exposure
usually precludes effects of sunlight, rain, and extreme temperature
changes. Coating deterioration is very slow and aging changes are not
readily apparent. Physical damage to the original coating is the main
reason for repainting interior woodwork and this usually results from ero-
sion due to repeated washings, scratching, and chipping resulting from
impacts. Over many years too frequent repainting will result in excessive
buildup of material in which chips and cracks are difficult to conceal ina
repaint job. When this happens all of the old coatings must be removed
before repainting can provide fully satisfactory appearance and service.
This expensive and laborious task should be delayed as long as possible
by repainting only when necessary.

An inspection schedule should be established, based on the amount
of use and the quality of appearance desired in the particular area. For
example, paint on wood in an office open to the public and in daily use
should be inspected more often than a little-used hallway open only to per-
sonnel of the organization.

A knowledge of the material originally used on the surface is
helpful in selecting materials for repainting because, as a general rule,
best results will be obtained if the paint is basically the same as the orig-
inal. The original paint can often be determined by reference to the con-
struction specifications and with few exceptions will be found to conform
to one of the Federal Specifications. Suitable paints for interior woodwork
are discussed on pages 23-26 of the Bureau's Paint Manual.

Experience has been that small quantities of specifications mate-
rials sometimes are difficult to procure. However, the various General
Services Administration warehouses carry stocks of paints conforming to
Federal Specifications. Bureau installations may purchase such tested
GSA paints which will give assurance of obtaining quality. Where this is
not possible or feasible, good quality stock paints in small quantities may
be procured from reputable paint companies.

Details of surface preparation and repainting of interior wood-
work are discussed in the Paint Manual on pages 42 to 44,

Exterior Woodwork

Deterioration of coatings in exterior exposure is much more rapid
than that of coatings on interior woodwork mainly because of greater ef-
fect of sunlight, moisture, and temperature changes. Therefore, inspec-
tion of such surfaces should be scheduled at more frequent intervals.
Yearly inspection should be arranged for all areas directly exposed to
weather. Inspection of areas that are somewhat protected (such as cov-
ered porches) should be every 2 years although in many cases yearly in-
spection may be convenient in conjunction with inspection of the other sur-

faces.

16


Annual Grasses. --The control of annual grasses on ditchbanks can be
obtained with the Same chemical treatments as for perennials except that
only one-fourth to one-half the rates of each herbicide are necessary.

Willows and Cottonwood. --Spraying with 2, 4-D is the most effective
and most economical treatment of the willows along ditchbanks. Foliage
sprays with 1 to 2 pounds of 2,4-D per acre in 100 to 150 gallons of water
applied by ground rig or in 5 to 10 gallons per acre of water applied by
airplane or helicopter are recommended. For complete elimination of
willows or cottonwood it usually is necessary to repeat the spray treat-
ment once or twice a year for two or three years. Occasionally it is more
convenient to treat willows or cottonwood with dormant 2, 4-D sprays par-
ticularly where the infestation is scattered or the trees are quite large.
For dormant sprays a 2,4-D ester at 2 to 4 percent in oil applied as a
basal spray to the lower 18 to 24 inches of the trees or in frills or cups
of large trees gives good results.

Other Woody Plants. --Ordinarily 2, 4-D is not effective in controlling
wild rose, osage orange, or salt cedar. For these species foliage sprays
of 2,4,5-T or 50-50 mixtures of 2, 4-D and 2,4,5-T to 3 lb/A applied at
the full leaf stage in the spring and again to regrowth in early fall usually
give satisfactory top kill. For complete elimination of these species re-
treatments over a period of several years usually are necessary. Fre-
quently, dormant applications of 2, 4,5-T at 4 percent in oil as a basal
spray on young trees or in frills or cups in larger trees are more effec-
tive than foliage sprays.

OK OK KOK

AURAND CLEANING TOOL

The tool shown in the photograph below has proved to be very use-
ful in cleaning metal surfaces for painting at Shasta Dam and Powerplant.
It is very good for removing all kinds of hard paints, rust, scale, etc.

The tool consists of two
drums on which are mounted hard
steel cutting wheels, similar to
grinding wheel dressing cutters.
As the drums rotate at high speed,
the cutters which fit loosely on
their respective shafts, are
brought into contact with the sur-
face to be cleaned by centrifugal
force. The tool is supplied com-
mercially with either pneumatic
or electric power.

Additional information regard-
ing the cleaning tool may be obtained from the Chief, Shasta Operations
Field Branch, Bureau of Reclamation, Redding, California.

KR ROKK
8


practice. These hard coated seeds also remain viable in manure and for
several years in water. It can be readily seen that with weeds of this type
it is particularly important that they be prevented from infesting the land
in the first place if at all possible.

The seeds of hoary cress, Canada thistle, and most of the
grasses do not remain viable in the soil more than 2 or 3 years. However,
even with these species it is important to prevent them from producing
seed, particularly in fence rows, on the irrigation ditchbanks, and in
waste areas which serve as a reservoir for weed seed to infest adjacent
farmland,

Use of Crop Competition in Weed Control

Crop competition, which is nature's remedy for weeds, often is
not used as efficiently as it should be in controlling weeds with the least
trouble and expense. Seeding of ditchbanks to adapted grass mixtures
makes effective use of crop competition for control of weeds. In selecting
the kinds of grass to seed on ditchbanks, some drought resistant species
should be used for the area high above the waterline while the moisture-
loving species should be included for the zone at and immediately above
the waterline. Rank growing species should be avoided in such seed mix-
tures, especially on smaller canals which are not pastured. Bureau of
Reclamation Operation and Maintenance Equipment and Procedures Re-
lease Nos. 3, 8, and 16 give excellent information on equipment and tech-
niques for seeding grasses on ditchbanks.

Control of Ditchbank Weeds

Pasturing. --Probably most of you are more directly interested in the
control of ditchbank weeds than of farmland weeds. Pasturing with live-
stock is the most effective and least expensive method for the general con-
trol of most herbaceous species and of sprouts of woody species in many
situations. The effective use of pasturing requires herding or fencing.
Special gates and livestock guards are necessary to provide for easy ac-
cess to the ditchbank roads by vehicles while at the same time preventing
the livestock from escaping from the fenced area. Pasturing goes hand in
hand with ditchbank seeding as an effective weed control measure and
makes it possible to utilize rank growing and high forage producing grasses
on ditchbanks without interfering with the flow of water or with inspection
of the ditchbanks.

Mowing. --Where pasturing cannot be utilized conveniently or econom-
ically, mowing is an effective method on nearly all types of weeds. How-
ever, mowing is rather slow and relatively expensive and requires proper
shaping of the ditchbanks and ditchbank roads on each side. Also, special
ditchbank mowers with heavy sickles and sections that will cut at any angle
through an arc of at least 120° are advantageous, if not absolutely neces-
sary. Such mowers which will cut heavy growth including willows up to
two inches in diameter are in rather extensive use in Bureau of Reclama-
tion Region 5, and some of them may also be in use in your Region 7, One



CONTROL OF WEEDS ON DITCHBANKS

Methods of controlling ditchbank weeds depends to a considerable
extent upon the type of weed involved--whether it is a herbaceous weed or
a woody plant, a broad-leaved species or a grass, a perennial or an an-
nual, and whether it is associated with a crop or is growing in a non-crop
area. With few exceptions the same weeds grow on ditchbanks as on farm-
land. The method of control may be similar in both situations but may be
quite different for the same speciesof weed depending on the associated
cropping conditions. Control methods are discussed in this article by
F. L. Timmons, Research Agronomist, Crops Research Division, Agri-
cultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Laramie,
Wyoming.

Weeds Classified

Before considering methods of control, I shall discuss a classi-
fication of weeds and give a few examples of each type. Among the herba-
ceous weeds typical broad-leaved perennials and biennials in this region
are field bindweed, bur ragweed, dogbane, hoary cress or whitetop, Can-
ada thistle, Russian knapweed, smartweeds, bullthistle, milkweeds, and
even sweet clover when it grows in areas where it is not desired such as
ditchbanks.

Annual weeds commonly found on ditchbanks are sunflower, pig-
weed, lambsquarters, marsh elder, giant ragweed, annual smartweed,
Russian thistle, kochia, and others.

Perennial grasses and sedges which commonly cause trouble on
ditchbanks in the Four-State area are Johnson grass, quackgrass, ripgut
grass, brome, orchard and other rank-growing grasses. Common annual
weedy grasses are foxtail, barnyard grass, and stinkgrass and typical win-
ter annuals are wild barley, wild bromegrass, and goatgrass. Barnyard
grass is about the only one of the annual grasses which constitutes a prob-
lem on ditchbanks.

Among the troublesome woody plants on ditchbanks are the vari-
ous species of willow, wild rose, cottonwood, and ina few areas, salt
cedar,

Prevention of Weeds

Despite the recent improvements in methods of controlling weeds,
prevention is still easier and much less expensive. In the realm of weed
control, an ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of control. As
a matter of fact, an ounce of effort in preventing field bindweed from get-
ting started on the farm otten is worth a ton of control.

Many of our weed seeds have the ability to remain viable in the
soil, in manure, or in water for a long period of time. Research has shown
that seed of bindweed, mustard, and pigweed may remain viable in the soil
for as long as 30 years even under normal cultivation and cropping

_~



The pitfall of too frequent repainting and the resultant cracking
and peeling of excessively thick coatings should be avoided. In this con-
nection, it should be noted that on a building the degree of deterioration
and the rate of chalking of painted surfaces is dependent upon the direction
each of the surfaces is facing. As arule, the surfaces facing north will
require painting less often than surfaces facing south (east and west are
usually intermediate) and these surfaces can be separately maintained and
have separate "Coating Service Record" cards. This can result in sub-
stantial savings in maintenance costs as well as to act against a heavy
paint buildup on the surfaces facing north.

Most exterior oil paints are now formulated to be "self-cleaning"
through chalking. In other words, the surface of the coating will gradually
become powdery and be washed away by rain. This is actually a controlled
type of deterioration and is much more to be desired than the cracking and
peeling which occurred with aging of paints of earlier formulation. The
self-cleaning feature of the newer paints largely limits their deterioration
to the surface and allows for a gradual reduction of the film thickness so
that as age embrittles and shrinks the paints there will be less tendency
for cracking and peeling. Any surface deposition will wash off to a certain
extent with the chalking of the paint. When additional paint is applied the
old paint is "revitalized" and a flexible will-bonded film is usually restored.

Inspection records of exterior woodwork paints over a period of
time may first show "chalking" then "slight checking" and ''wood being ex-
posed in thin areas."' Before the latter description fits any significant
fraction of the total surface it is time for application of additional paint.
The inspections should also take note of any warping or cracking of the
wood and, if these have occurred, suitable repairs should precede the
actual painting operation. Special attention should be given to the condi-
tion of paint and wood on doors and windows since these surfaces receive
physical abuse in addition to attack by the weather.

Surfaces which are coated with enamel or other nonchalking ma-
terials and are in fairly good condition at the time of repainting will re-
quire only scraping or sandpapering as surface preparation. However, if
deterioration has taken the form of severe cracking and peeling, the adhe-
sion of the old paint is probably generally poor and additional paint will
soon show the same cracking. On occasions the new paint has actually ag-
gravated the situation by lifting the old paint. Inspection reports may even-
tually show "cracking and peeling. '' Where this condition is general and
severe, especially where numerous repaintings have built up excessive
film thickness, the existing coating has little value and only complete re-
moval of the old paint and repainting will give satisfactory results.

Surface preparation required before repainting is undertaken de-
pends upon the extent and type of deterioration. For surfaces having
merely thin and heavily-chalked paint, light wire brushing to remove loose
material down to firm paint or wood will suffice. Of course, small areas
having penetrating stains or othér blemishes should receive appropriate

17



Dalapon. --For control of perennial weedy grasses and sedges, dalapon
at 15 to 20 Ib/A in 40 or more gallons of water per acre applied at an early
growth stage and repeated as necessary one or more times each season
has given satisfactory control of most species in experimental trials.

After the perennial grass species have been eliminated by dalapon, a mix-
ture of dalapon at only 5 or 6 lb/A and 2, 4-D at 1 to 2 pounds will give
adequate control of both broad-leaved weeds and annual grasses.

ATA, --3-amino-1, 2, 4-triazole at 8 to 12 Ib/A applied at an early
growth stage and repeated as necessary once or twice each season is about
as effective as dalapon on most grass species and considerably more ef-
fective on the sedges, particularly ripgut grass. Amino triazole has the
added advantage of being effective on broad-leaved weeds as well although
it is considerably more expensive than dalapon at the rates required.

Oils. --Dinitro-fortified fuel oil containing 3 pints of oil soluble 4, 6-
dinitro ortho secondary butylphenol (DNBP) to 100 gallons of furnace oil
or diesel oil applied at the rate of 80 to 120 gallons per acre usually gives
satisfactory control of both weedy grasses and broad-leaved species.

The DNBP-fortified oil treatments will need to be made every 3 to 6 weeks
during the first season depending on the rate of regrowth, but in subse-
quent seasons applications every 6 to 8 weeks may be sufficient. The cost
of the DNBP-fortified oil treatment is similar to that of the dalapon treat-
ment for perennial grasses but considerably more than the combination of
dalapon and 2, 4-D for annual weeds.

Soil Sterilants. --Soil sterilant herbicides can be used to good advan-
tage for controlling ditchbank weeds where leaving the banks bare causes
no erosion problem. Diuron or monuron at 40 to 50 lb/A, sodium chlorate
at 800 to 1300 lb/A (5 to 8 lb/sq rd), borates and borate mixtures with
chlorate, 2,4-D, or a urea herbicide at 8 to 12 lb/sq rd, or erbon at 80
to 120 lb/A usually will give adequate control of most perennial ditchbank
weeds above the waterline and in ditches used only intermittently for ir-
rigation. However, none of these treatments has proved effective at or
below the waterline in canals which carry water continuously. In Utah,
we found that diuron or monuron at the extremely high rates of 80 to 100
lb/A applied in the fall after water had been turned out of the canal or in
early spring several weeks before the water was turned in did give com-
plete or nearly complete eradication of rank grasses such as reed canary
grass and quackgrass. However, we had considerable trouble during the
next two or three seasons with the bare ditchbank sloughing into the
canal. All of the soil sterilant treatments are quite expensive, ranging
from $0.80 to more than $1.50 per square rod or $130 to $240 per acre.

Most of the soil sterilant herbicides may be applied as a spray
or broadcast as dry material. When they are applied as a spray the vol-
ume of water necessary may vary from 40 to as much as 500 or more gal-
lons per acre depending upon the rate and solubility in water.



POWER O&M BULLETINS OF INTEREST TO IRRIGATION OPERATORS

The Division of Power Operations issues bulletins periodically on
subjects which concern facilities under their responsibility. In reviewing
the bulletins which have been issued, four were found which contain infor-
mation of value to people responsible for the operation and maintenance of
irrigation systems. The numbers and titles of these bulletins is given be-
low together with a short statement of what they contain.

Bulletin No. 9 - ''Keeping Motor Windings Dry." This bulletin de-
cribes the damage caused in motor windings by moisture, measures for
determining the condition of the insulation in the motor and procedures for
drying out the motor windings so that they are in condition for operation.
Also covered are certain precautions which may be taken to prevent the ac-
cumulation of moisture inside of the motor.

Bulletin No. 12 - ''Lead-Acid Storage Battery Principles." This
bulletin carries a great deal of information concerning the operation and
care of lead-acid storage batteries such as are provided for emergency
power sources in many of our dams and powerplants. The normal oper-
ation of the battery is explained and the appearance of the cells under
normal and abnormal conditions is described. Also described are various
tests for determining the condition of the battery, types of chargers, meth-
ods of charging, and many other valuable information items.

Bulletin No, 23 - ''Fire -- Fighting, Cause and Prevention," de-
scribes the chemistry of burning explaining the conditions leading to fires.
The three classes of fires are also given together with the proper types of
extinguishers, and the methods of fighting to be used on each type. The
various types of fire fighting equipment and their use is covered as are the
care and inspection of such equipment. Also covered is the subject of the
cause and prevention of fires.

Bulletin No. 25 - "Corrosion Protection of Buried and Submerged
Metals, '" deals with the protection of ferrous metals by cathodic methods.
Both galvanic and impressed current methods are described with diagrams
to illustrate the making of installations. The bulletin contains a great deal
of information related tothe prevention of corrosion of buriedor submerged
metals with an explanation of the chemistry of the action, and of certain
actions which may take place to destroy unprotected metals. Covered also
is an explanation of how to figure the current requirements for a given in-
stallation and other data required to complete such a design.

These bulletins may be obtained from the Bureau of Reclamation,
Attention: Code D-841, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado, ata
cost of 20 cents per copy for Nos. 9 and 25, 35 cents for No. 23, and 60
cents for No. 12.

KK KKK

23



LAST GOPY - DO NOT REMOVE

Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

eRe ian PROCEDURES

July, EST UOPY- 10 NOT. BEMAUE

CONTENTS

Counter-Weighted Spray or Burner Boom

Control of Weeds on Ditchbanks

Aurand Cleaning Tool

Preventing Structure Washouts

Cooperation in Weed Control

Maintenance Painting (Introduction)

Maintenance Painting of Woodwork

Repairing Leaks in Concrete Pipes

Power O&M Bulletins of Interest to Irrigation Operators

Reduce Costs for Maintenance of Drainage Channels

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While the condition depicted by the sketch may not be typical of
all old ditches, it is typical of a great many that have not been maintained
as well as they might have been. Suppose that a gravel blanket had been

Inside slopes of new ditch conform
to lines of structure,

— Inside slopes of old ditch
if allowed to erode

~The bottom of the old channel
may also erode like this

SMALL STRUCTURE GUTOFF

placed around the wetted perimeter of the ditch section when the structure

was built. In all probability, the banks would not have eroded and the weak

points would not have developed and we would have a safe structure. By a
the same token, a structure which has deteriorated to the condition shown

could be made safe by a similar treatment, namely, a substantial blanket

of gravel to restore the ditch to something like its original lines. Further-

more, it would probably prove to be a good investment for any project,

having gravel available, to place a blanket at the upstream end of every

canal or lateral structure in their system.

It has been found that a gravel blanket 4 to 6 inches thick placed
around the wetted perimeter from the cutoff upstream about 6 feet gives
very good protection. Erosion is prevented and the smaller burrowing
animals do not like to dig in gravel. There is a difference of opinion among
O&M men as to the amount of gravel to be used in such a location, but the
amount mentioned should be considered to be a minimum. For larger
structures, the blanket should be thicker and extend farther upstream,
coarser materials being used for higher velocities and greater depths of
water. The type of gravel most likely to give good service should be fairly
well graded, or at least it should contain a reasonable amount of fines or
dirt, and, preferably, a little clay.

When washouts occur, such as the one shown, it is the practice of
many of our O&M people to extend the bottom of the cutoff down from the
sloping portion so that it is square across the bottom. Gravelly material
is then used for backfilling to complete the job.

10



PREVENTING STRUCTURE WASHOUTS

One of the most troublesome maintenance problems confronting
many of our operating projects is that of keeping structures from wash-
ing out around the upstream headwalls. This has happened to the weir
drop structure shown at
left. Of course, when the
water starts around the head-
wall, the whole structure will
likely be lost if the leak is
not stopped promptly. The
break shown was discovered
early enough so that the struc-
ture was not lost.

To meet the threat of
structure washouts, the vari-
ous project operators have
devised means to prevent the
washouts from occurring or
to stop the leaks before they
develop into serious breaks.
We propose to mention some
of the measures employed by
these operators with the hope that readers of this publication may benefit by
the experience of others.

We find that there are a number of causes contributing to the oc-
currence of washouts around cutoff walls such as: The natural erosion and
reshaping of the channel section to develop points of weakness at cutoffs;
the burrowing of animals of various sorts; frost heaving of the structure;
shrinkage of the drying foundation material away from the structure; and
inadequacy of the cutoff as originally constructed. The last named cause
might be attributed to improper design or to the failure of construction
engineers to exercise good judgement in adapting the optional dimensions
given to the specific conditions encountered at the site. Our designers are
now requiring deeper cutoffs than have been used heretofore, but, in any
case, we have our washouts starting around the cutoffs of our older struc-
tures.

In order to appreciate some of the factors contributing to wash-
outs, let us take a look at what changes may take place in the shape of the
channel immediately upstream from the structure if the earth section is
permitted to follow the course of nature. The figure, shown onthe fol-
lowing page, of an ordinary small structure cutoff, shows that the inside
channel lines originally conform to the inside concrete lines of the cut-
off. However, as time goes on the ditch widens and changes from trap-
ezoidal to U-shaped and where velocities are high the bottom is likely to
scour. This results in the face of the cutoff becoming more and more ex-
posed and points of weakness develop where the surface of the earth chan-
nel approaches the sloping bottom of the cutoff. To make things worse,
burrowing animals choose these points for their digging operations with the
well known results.


special advantage of mowing ditchbank weeds is that it encourages low-
growing grasses such as Bermuda, buffalo, and bluegrass to replace tall
growing grasses and broad-leaved species.

Burning. --Burning of ditchbank weeds with oil, butane or propane
burners is an effective although a rather expensive method that is used
extensively in the Southwest where it probably is better adapted than in the
Four-State area. However, we have found burning to be a rather promis-
ing method in our experiments in eastern Wyoming, and I believe there are
many situations in this area in which burning could be used to advantage.
Experiments have shown that burning every 6 to 8 weeks usually will give
adequate control of most annual weeds while burning every 3 to 4 weeks is
required for elimination of perennial weeds. Farmers often make the
mistake of trying to burn all of the green vegetation the first time over.

A more economical and even more effective method is to sear the vege-
tation just enough to kill the top growth the first time over and then burn
the ditchbank clean several days later where necessary to remove growth
obstructing the flow of water.

Chemical Control of Ditchbank Weeds

2, 4-D. --Chemical control of weeds on ditchbanks usually is some-
what more expensive than pasturing but may be less expensive than mowing
or burning in many situations. For herbaceous broad-leaved species
2,4-D is the least expensive and most effective treatment in most situa-
tions. On annual weeds and susceptible perennials applications of 1 to
2 1b/A at an early growth stage will give satisfactory results while even
lighter rates are effective on some species, particularly when they are
in the seedling stage. Usually it is necessary to spray 2 or 3 times each
year in order to maintain adequate control. On ditchbanks adjacent to.
fields with sensitive crops such as sugar beets, beans, or alfalfa, the
amine or low volatile ester forms of 2, 4-D should be used rather than the
relatively high volatile butyl, ethyl and isopropyl esters. Regardless of
which type of 2, 4-D is used it is important to avoid drift of the spray on
to sensitive crops. Spraying on ditchbanks should be done only when the
wind is blowing away from such sensitive crops or when there is not enough
wind to cause drift.

For hard to kill perennials such as smartweed and Russian knap-
weed it is usually necessary to use a low volatile ester of 2, 4-D at 3 to
4 lb/A and repeat once or twice each year, as necessary, to maintain con-
trol and perhaps even eventually eliminate the weed.

The amount of water used in applying 2, 4-D on ditchbanks may
vary from 20 to 100 or more gallons per acre depending upon the type of
spraying equipment available. Volumes of spray lower than 20 gallons
per acre increase the hazard that the finer spray particles may be drifted
by wind onto nearby sensitive crops.



this article prepared by William G. Meyer, Engineer, Fresno Operations
Field Branch, Central Valley Project, California.

The majority of the leaks occur at the beginning of the irrigation
season due to contraction when the cold water of the Friant-Kern Canal is

Figure 2

first turned into the lines,
which have warmed up
during the winter. Asa
temporary measure when
the number of leaks is too
great to handle in a reason-
able time, the District
puts sawdust in the line.
This method serves very
well until repairs can be
made. Some of the larger
lines have rubber gasketed
joints and very little trou-
ble has been experienced
with these. Prior to March
1, 1956, leaks were re-
paired by the contractor,
who originally built the
system. His method was
to break a hole in the line,
add a mortar ring to the

inside of the crack or joint, seal the broken hole and add mortar to the out-
side mortar band. This did not prove satisfactory since the inside band of
mortar constricted the flow somewhat, and later, leaks reoccurred. For

amore permanent repair
the District has in the past
used lead wool, placed in
the cracks with a miner's
pick and covered with mor-
tar. However, as time
went by, this method also
proved to be unreliable.

The District has now
found a much better and
at the same time more dur-
able method of repairing
leaks by the use of rubber
and a steel band. The
sequence of operations for
this method is as follows:
A Diesel Fordson tractor,
with hydraulic backhoe
attachment, is used for
the excavation, as shown


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MAINTENANCE PAINTING

Six billion dollars a year! That's the price tag on corrosion of
metalwork in the United States according to recognized authorities. It
means that an amount nearly equal to one tenth of the federal budget is
spent just in maintaining or replacing metalwork exposed to corrosive en-
vironments. The cost of combating corrosion is not a small item on irri-
gation projects; however, the cost of protecting against exposure is in
most instances less costly than replacement of facilities. An example of
the corrosive action on metalwork is well illustrated in the photograph
below.

Continuous operation of a powerplant necessitated uninterrupted
diversion into canal headworks. The roller gate shown, therefore, was
held continuously in a submerged or partially submerged position. Opera-
tion in this manner during the past 23 years had afforded only limited
periods for examination or maintenance and repair of the gate and other
under-water surfaces of the structure. Damage and deterioration from
erosion, freezing, thawing, debris accumulation, silt deposition, rusting
and other causes has therefore been accumulative. The three-sixteenth
inch thick metal plates are rusted through, seven-sixteenth inch thick
metal has been reduced to five-sixteenth inch, and many of the channels
are either rusted through or so weakened that much of the interior metal
framework must now be replaced.


schedule with a system for recording the degree and rate of deterioration
in order to anticipate scheduling of work at the time when it will be needed.
On the other hand, damage to a coating from impact, abrasion, or unusual
temperature conditions may occur quite rapidly. In both circumstances
regular inspection and records can be instrumental in greatly extending the
life of the existing coatings and thus in cutting down on the cost per square
foot per year for protection.

To accomplish an integrated paint maintenance program capable
of achieving maximum results over long periods, it would be well to make
the scheduling of repair work the chief responsibility of one individual on
the project. This individual preferably should have had experience in the
application of different paint materials. His initial work should be to con-
duct a "paint survey" of all painted items in his area. The data so ob-
tained should be as complete as possible regarding the past history and
present condition of each coating and could be compiled in a card file for
easy reference. Provision should be made for the inspection of surfaces
which usually are inaccessible by reason of their submergence during nor-
mal operation. The maintenance painting in succeeding years should be
planned in consultation with and under the direction of the responsible
individual, and procedures and coatings should be chosen in the light of
the records maintained for the purpose. When the time for complete re-
habilitation of the coating arrives it may be decided that a more durable
coating will provide greater economy over a long period or possibly that
a cheaper one will serve satisfactorily in the particular location. In the
performance of maintenance painting and repainting work, it should be the
responsibility of the individual designated to see that good practices are
followed in order to assure that the optimum quality of application is ob-
tained. Cost data on the work should constitute a part of the record which
will become an increasingly valuable source of valid information on the
overall cost of particular coatings and paint protection in general.

MAINTENANCE PAINTING OF WOODWORK

Painting of woodwork on Bureau projects occupies a position of
secondary importance to that of painting metalwork by reason of the
smaller area and the expense involved and the consequences of paint fail-
ure. Nevertheless, regular inspection and maintenance of woodwork coat-
ings are required to preserve the base material and to maintain a pleasing
appearance. Dwellings, office buildings, and warehouses for the bulk of
painted wooden surfaces and some problems likely to occur in maintaining
the paints should be considered.

The maintenance of coatings for wood can be divided for discus-
sion into three general categories according to the exposure:

(1) Interior Woodwork

(2) Exterior Woodwork
(3) Immersed or Buried Wood

15



COUNTER-WEIGHTED SPRAY OR BURNER BOOM

A new counter-weighted spray or burner boom, shown on the
cover of this issue of the bulletin, has been constructed and put into use
on the Ysleta Branch of the Rio Grande Project, Texas-New Mexico. The
boom was constructed at the suggestion of Henry C. Lange, Foreman of
Equipment Operations, and William C. Brady, Chief of the Ysleta Irriga-
tion Field Branch, to replace older type manually-operated booms simi-
lar to that shown at the bottom of this page.

The new type counter-
weighted boom, shown
above, in position for oper-
ation, is considerably
lighter and much less rigid
in construction. It was con-
structed at a cost of $112.50
compared to a cost of $194
for construction of the older
type boom. The new boom
has required considerably
less repair for the one year
operated than the heavier
boom and it is believed the
newer design will last longer
in service.



REDUCE COSTS FOR MAINTENANCE OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS

The Coachella Valley County Water District, operating the
Coachella Division of the All-American Canal System, has reduced the
cost of maintaining drainage and flood channels by construction of a nar-
rower channel in the bottom of the large drain and flood channels. The
pilot drainage channel is an excellent idea worth copying elsewhere.

The narrower channel has been dug in the wider flood channels
to carry all drainage water and small flood flows. The practice localizes
the heavy vegetative growth and permits the development of a grass cov-
ered dry bottom to develop in the main channel. Equipment can operate
in the bottom of the main channel and this facilitates the control of weeds.
Previously weed control had to be conducted from the higher banks of the
flood channel and was not very effective.

The cost of weed control and maintenance has been reduced and a
major flood can pass through the main channel unobstructed by heavy
brush. It might be added that the appearance of the channel is much im-
proved.

Kok ROKK

GPo #48968
24



OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Release No, 21
July, August, September - 1957
INTRODUCTION

Included in this issue of the bulletin are a list of Power O&M
Bulletins of interest to irrigation operators, articles on weed control, a
suggestion for reducing the maintenance costs of drainage channels, a new
tool for cleaning metal surfaces, and a method of repairing leaks in con-
crete pipe. In addition, there are two timely articles: "Control of Weeds
on Ditchbanks,"' by F. L. Timmons, Research Agronomist, Crops Re-
search Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of
Agriculture, Laramie, Wyoming, and 'Maintenance Painting" prepared
by the Bureau's Paint Laboratory.

Mr. Timmons discussed weed control on ditchbanks at a meeting
of the Four States Irrigation Council in Denver, Colorado, last spring. It
was believed the discussion would prove of interest to all irrigators, and
consequently permission to include it in the O&M Bulletin was requested of
Mr. Timmons.

We have been asked to include information on maintenance paint-
ing in the bulletin for some time, and the Paint Laboratory will prepare a
series of articles on the subject. The first article is devoted to an intro-
duction and maintenance painting of woodwork. This will be followed, in
subsequent releases, by articles on the maintenance painting of metal-
work and other surfaces.

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 resource-
ful water users will be a step toward commercial development of equipment
for use on irrigation projects in a continued effort to reduce costs and in-
crease operating efficiency.

For the benefit of readers who did not receive, or would like to
have earlier releases of the Bulletin, back numbers of most issues are
available.

2K Kk Ok

DIVISION OF IRRIGATION OPERATIONS
Commissioner's Office
Denver, Colorado



By way of meeting emergencies of this nature, one proj-
ect keeps two dump trucks loaded with gravel, during the period of
heaviest water demand, ready to rush to any threatened point on the sys-
tem. Another project keeps a flat bed truck loaded with light sheet steel
piling, sand bags, shovels, and gravel ready to proceed immediately to
any place on the system where a break is threatening. Of course, the
practice of going over the whole system carefully each spring, before
turning the water in, and repairing any structures that look weak is very
common among experienced operators, but it is easy to miss an ani-
mal burrow or other weak point. In that case we must be prepared to
cope with the breaks when they occur.

Another project that has a rather short supply of gravel uses
another means of thwarting the burrowing animals. As shown in the photo-
graph below, short reaches of gunite lining are placed upstream from the
drop structures. In locations where the drops are located within a few
feet of the turnout outlets,
as is the case in the photo-
graph, the two structures
are connected with the gun-
ite lining. (Incidentally, if
you want accurate water
measurement, don't locate
the staff gage as close to
the weir as shown. )

Some of our new
ditches, in their first year
or two of operation, gave a
lot of trouble through struc-
ture washouts, but these
are usually not due to de-
velopment of weak spots
through changes in the canal
section, They are more
generally due to settlement of the backfill as it becomes wet or to shrinking
of foundation materials as they dry out, or to similar causes,

The designers recognize these problems which face operators
and they are doing something about it. It was customary on older draw-
ings to stipulate a minimum depth of cutoff wall, which would be adequate
under good conditions, with the expectation that the construction engineers
would extend the cutoffs down deeper if unfavorable materials were encoun-
tered. It appears, however, that in many instances no consideration was
given by the construction people to deepening the cutoffs below the minimum
and this resulted in inadequate structures in many cases. In the newer de-
signs, the cutoffs have been deepened beyond the old minimum dimension,
and where the design data indicates that the foundation material is unfavor-
able other steps are taken to assure adequate cutoffs. Such steps may be
the squaring up of the bottom of the cutoff, or the steepening of the bottom

11



Twenty-three years of service is considerable, but there is little
doubt that the metal would have served for many more years with proper
protection by suitable paints.

O&M forces are charged with maintaining the continuing effective-
ness of protective coatings throughout the life of structures to assure the
uninterrupted flow of water and power. The purpose of a series of articles
prepared by the Bureau's Paint Laboratory, of which this is the first, is to
provide information and to suggest procedures for the accomplishment of
an organized and standardized paint maintenance program that should re-
sult in reduced maintenance. These articles will touch upon the types of
attack to which various coatings are vulnerable, criteria for ascertaining
the extent of coating deterioration, and the most effective repair proce-
dures. The articles will attempt to cover all important problems in Bureau
paint work, with this first article devoted to an introduction and the main-
tenance painting of woodwork. From time to time, comments on measures
taken to solve specific problems by field forces will be presented. Accord-
ingly, reports from the field are encouraged so that all may benefit from
the experience of others. Questions or comments directed to the Paint
Laboratory concerning these articles, or to the Division of Irrigation Op-
erations, on painting or any other maintenance problems are invited.

Exposure considerations largely dictate the selection of the origi-
nal coating. The original cost of protective and decorative coatings used
on Bureau of Reclamation structures ranges from $0.12 to $1.00 a square
foot. The coating materials and application methods required in Bureau
specifications are believed to be consistent with best practice elsewhere,
and the most favorable from a long-term economic viewpoint. Neverthe-
less, it must be remembered that paint coatings, though continuously being
improved, are still relative thin films generally containing organic matter,
and as such are vulnerable to one or more of nature's destructive forces.
If deterioration is allowed to proceed until the effectiveness of the protec-
tive coating is lost, considerable expense will be incurred by replacement
of the existing coating, or corrosion of the base material can result ina
financial loss far greater than the cost of providing paint protection. In
order to prevent such loss, it is necessary that the coatings be inspected
and maintained at regular intervals so that destruction of the coating and
base material will be held to a minimum.

Many firms in private industry have recognized the importance of
reducing corrosion, and, by supporting a fully inclusive system for record-
ing the performance of protective coatings, they hope to obtain maximum
service and economy. The ever increasing extent of maintenance painting
and the cost of performing it would seem to make such a practice worth
while by Bureau and Water User's O&M forces. Such a record would pro-
vide much needed information, result in painting economy, and serve as
a first step in standardizing maintenance procedures. The problems of
inspection and maintenance are usually complicated by the fact that most
forms of coating deterioration are very gradual and not readily apparent
in the early phases. Thus, it is desirable to establish an inspection

14