Irrigation takes a lot of water. Also, the systems used to move the water from the rivers to the farms bring much needed water to many towns and villages for their homes and industries. These water delivery and crop-watering systems need to be used carefully to protect the environment. A. Reservoirs are man-made lakes that hold the water needed for irrigation. These reservoirs are used for flood control and recreation.
Water is released at a regular rate from a reservoir into the river that flows from it.
This helps fish, wildlife and others who need the river water. Water is also allowed to flow into irrigation canals so that farmers can water their crops. B. Irrigation canals built many years ago need to be improved. They sometimes leak, waste water and harm nearby land. Often, these canals can not carry as much water as is needed today.