The Lamar register., 1910-11-02
NEED FOR DRAINAGE
Necessity in Irrigated Regions
Rapidly Increasing.
Scarcely Any Land Which Formerly
Produced Paying Crops and Later
Became Affected That Can
not Be Reclaimed.


] tBy CHARLES +. BROWN. Drainage
Engineer. u. s. Department of
| Agrfculture.)
The general need for drainage of
irrigated lands has increased rapidly
during the last twenty years. The
most productive lands of these regions
and those which were first brought
under cultivation are, in many In
stances. now abandoned or fit only for
wet pasturage. In Utah alone there
are approximately 100000 acres Of ir-
rigated lands needing drainage. Salt
Lake Valley has about "a 900 acres of
such lands. and several other valleys
from 10000 to 10000 acres each.
There are several localities In which.
OF the total irrigated lands. 80 per
cent. are in such condition. Califor-
mia. Colorado. Washington. Montana.
and Wyoming are likewise affected.
more or less, and in time all of the
newly irrigated lands will have their
problems of drainage. 1t naturally de-
wolves upon the holders of such lands
to reclaim them. To the end of devel-
oping the best methods for accom-
plishing the reclamation Of such lands
the Office of Experiment Stations has
conducted drainage Investigations in
Utah. California. Oregon. Washington.
wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska.
with results which Justify the con-
clusion that there is scarcely any land
in the irrigated region which formerly
produced paying crops. and later be-
came affected by excess of water or
ha itoh
claimed. provided the work is correct
ly planned and carried out. These re-
suits also point to the possibility of
reclaiming many virgin lands contain
Ing an excess of alkaline salts.
ID The extent and value of lands
IN the arid west needing drainage
make this a question of great impor-
lance. Most of these lands once pro-
duced abundant crops. but now they
lie idle or produce only small por-
tion of what they should. Nearly ev-
cry agricultural district in Utah.
Washington. Montana. Wyoming. Col
orado. and California has large areas
in this condition.
(2) The value of understanding the
fundamental principles of drainage. in
preventing the increase of such con-
ditions and reclaiming those lands
now affected, can hardly be overesti-
mated. Millions of dollars would have
been saved in the west II the inju-
rfous results of seepage water and
alkali and the methods of preventing
them had been known and appreci-
ated. Some knowledge of the nature
and source OF alkali. together with its
relation TO crop production. is essen
ual. The reports of experiments in
Utah. Washington. California. and
Colorado. contained in this bulletin.
AFFORD proof that such injuries could
have been prevented at a reasonable
cost.
80 Success is dependent upon cor
rect plans and proper construction of
drains. Careful and systematic sur
veys and subsoil examinations should
never be omitted. The form of drain
or section of ditch should be chosen
with reference to Its efficiency in the
particular soil formation and water
conditions.
90 The subsequent care and treat
ment Of drains and lands will also de-
termiRe the ultimate success. In hui
mid countries drainage systems. once
well laid. take care OF themselves
and usually operate successfully for
many years. Drainage systems in arid
countries. where irrigation is prac-
tised. require watching and treatment
after they are laid. The care is nee
essary in relation to surface waters.
and the treatment OF lands necessary
when they are affected with aIkali.