Irrigation System, Tail Water Recovery

Irrigation System, Tail Water Recovery POLLUTANTS ADDRESSED: Nutrients and Organics, Salinity, Sediments

Agricultural lands DESCRIPTION: Tail water recovery systems captures water after it has been used to irrigate an agricultural field and directs it to a facility that can collect, store, and transport tail water to be reused for further irrigation.

LOAD REDUCTION MECHANISM: Nutrients/Organics Management- A properly designed tail water storage facility will provide adequate retention time for the breakdown of chemicals in the runoff waters.

Salinity Reduction- Pond sealers and liners are used to prevent high salinity water from entering subsurface and surface waters.

Sediment Reduction – Sediment settles out of the tail water while it is held in a storage facility.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Reduction in surface water contaminants ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT MEASURES: Irrigation Land Leveling Irrigation System, Drip Irrigation Water Management PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS: Contact county regional flood control district.

LAND USE CLASSIFICATION:

Arid Southwest BMP

POTENTIAL TREATMENT AREAS: Agricultural Lands

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Irrigation System, Tail water Recovery POLLUTANTS ADDRESSED: Nutrients and Organics, Salinity, Sediments

Level 400: MODERATE ENGINEERING

LOAD REDUCTION POTENTIAL: LOW

MEDIUM

4. Irrigation systems should be designed to limit tailwater volumes to that needed for effective operation. This reduces the need or minimizes the size and capacity of collection, storage, and transportation facilities.

HIGH

ESTIMATED TIME FOR LOAD REDUCTION: IMMEDIATE

MONTHS2 YEARS

> 2 YEARS

5. Changes in irrigation water management activities will be necessary to accommodate return flows.

EXPECTED MAINTENANCE: LOW

MEDIUM

6. Nutrient and pest management measures should be planned to limit chemical-laden tailwater as much as practical. Chemical-laden water can create a potential hazard to wildlife, especially waterfowl that are drawn to ponded water.

HIGH

ESTIMATED COST: LOW

MEDIUM

HIGH

PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION: 1. Irrigation systems should be designed to limit tailwater volumes to that needed for effective operation. This reduces the need or minimizes the size and capacity of collection, storage, and transportation facilities.

2. Changes in irrigation water management activities will be necessary to accommodate return flows.

Riparian Planting Zone: Upland Zone and Flood flows

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

3. Nutrient and pest management measures should be planned to limit chemical-laden tailwater as much as practical. Chemical-laden water can create a potential hazard to wildlife, especially waterfowl that are drawn to ponded water.

Arid Southwest BMP

7. Protection of system components from storm events and excessive sedimentation should be considered. Downstream flows or aquifer recharge volumes dependent on runoff will be reduced. Existing wetland hydrology could be impacted by this practice.

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Conservation Practice Standard, Irrigation System, Surface and Subsurface, prepared by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ageng/irrigate/ae91.pdf