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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Using Net Groundwater Extractions For Farm Level Groundwater Sustainability Monitoring, Daniel J. Howes, Morgan Whinery, Eric Limas, Dan Vink
Using Net Groundwater Extractions For Farm Level Groundwater Sustainability Monitoring, Daniel J. Howes, Morgan Whinery, Eric Limas, Dan Vink
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering
The Cal Poly Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) has developed a method for computing net groundwater extraction and recharge at the farm level for district management and regulation of sustainable/safe yields. This method is called Net To/From Groundwater (NTFGW). Net groundwater extraction is preferred for assessing sustainable yield in unconfined aquifer systems over direct metering of gross groundwater pumping. A recent pilot project with the Lower Tule River and Pixley Irrigation Districts’ Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) compared actual metered groundwater pumping, surface deliveries, and evapotranspiration to the NTFGW outputs on 19 farms within the GSAs over a 3-year period …
Water Hammer Protection For Pumped Turnouts On Aging Pipelines, Charles M. Burt, Zachary C. Markow
Water Hammer Protection For Pumped Turnouts On Aging Pipelines, Charles M. Burt, Zachary C. Markow
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering
Water hammer in an irrigation district pipeline is typically caused by sudden changes in turnout flow rates. A sudden shutoff of a booster pump, or a rapid closure of a turnout valve, can potentially cause surge damage. The problem occurs if the pressure exceeds the pressure rating of the pipeline. As pipes age, their pressure rating typically declines. This report describes three different solutions that utilize a combination of these techniques/devices to provide district pipeline protection from water hammer.
Case Study: Flow Measurement And Control In Walker River Irrigation District, Stuart Styles, Sierra Layous, Robert Bryan
Case Study: Flow Measurement And Control In Walker River Irrigation District, Stuart Styles, Sierra Layous, Robert Bryan
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering
Walker River Irrigation District (WRID) is located in Nevada around the community of Yerington and contains approximately 95,000 hectares (235,000 acres), 32,000 hectares (80,000 acres) of which are irrigated. The district operates a canal system centered around the three forks of the Walker River. Starting in 2009, the district has worked with the Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) to modernize its system by improving the accuracy of the measured diversions from the Walker River and enhancing the real-time control capabilities of the water managers. A “package” was developed for the headworks of canals diverting water from the river, consisting …
Scada System Maintenance: An Often Overlooked Necessity, Charles M. Burt, Kyle Fesit
Scada System Maintenance: An Often Overlooked Necessity, Charles M. Burt, Kyle Fesit
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering
The design and implementation of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system is typically undertaken by expert engineers and integration contractors. In order to provide a robust and reliable SCADA system, good design and installation practices are required. Preserving the initial SCADA system reliability requires good maintenance. Unfortunately, SCADA maintenance is often overlooked or underestimated. There are two potential providers for SCADA maintenance activities. Some SCADA maintenance activities are best provided by the developer or installer of the SCADA system, before closing out a project contract. Other SCADA maintenance requirements are best provided by the irrigation district or SCADA …
Modernizing Aging Pipe Infrastructure In Irrigation Districts, Charles M. Burt, Kyle Feist, Zachary Markow
Modernizing Aging Pipe Infrastructure In Irrigation Districts, Charles M. Burt, Kyle Feist, Zachary Markow
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering
Many irrigation and water districts in California convey water through aging concrete pipelines. In addition to huge problems with leaks and failures, districts also struggle to provide turnout deliveries with more flexible schedules. This paper discusses the problems that are encountered, and various approaches that have been or can be used. The specific pipeline designs that are discussed in this paper are generally gravity flow, flowing downhill from a canal. Most of these pipelines were originally installed under the assumptions that farmers would need high flows at low pressures for surface irrigation.