Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Prehistoric Irrigation In Central Utah: Chronology, Agricultural Economics, And Implications, Steven R. Simms, Tammy M. Rittenour, Chimalis Kuehn, Molly Boeka Cannon

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

In 1928, Noel Morss was shown “irrigation ditches” along Pleasant Creek on the Dixie National Forest near Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, by a local guide who contended they were ancient. We relocated the site and mapped the route of an unusual mountain irrigation canal. We conducted excavations and employed OSL and AMS 14C showing historic irrigation, and an earlier event between AD 1460 and 1636. Geomorphic evidence indicates that the canal existed prior to this time, but we cannot date its original construction. The canal is 7.2 km long, originating at 2,450 m asl and terminating at 2,170 m …

Economic Impacts Of Irrigation Technologies In The Sevier River Basin, Theodore R. Frickel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The economic well-being of the semi-arid intermountain area requires efficient use of available water supplies. Agriculture, the major water-consuming industry, depends on irrigation water. The adoption of sprinkler systems that increase irrigation "efficiencies" and increase water available for irrigation upstream may interfere with the "tenure" of downstream water rights. The farmers would like to use the water saved to irrigate additional acreages or crop to provide greater profits.

The problem in letting farmers expand their irrigated acreage is that the individual farmer increases his profits through increased consumptive use. The consequent reduction in return flows reduces the water available to …

Economic Implications Of Phenologically Timed Irrigation In Corn Production, Dawuda Tsalhatu Gowon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Corn production data was fitted into a Translog production function. Analysis of the resultant equation was based on what impact irrigation keyed to the crop's phenology would have on yield. A crop product cost function was developed to determine if there is profit (loss) in adapting water application to corn by phenological time period. Reasons for not adapting phenology as a key variable in irrigation include institutional constraints. Without modifying these institutional constrains, adopting the proposed technology may prove prohibitive.

An Evaluation Of Using In-Field Evaporation Pans To Schedule Irrigation On Potatoes, Michael J. Tremblay

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This research project was undertaken to determine if an evaporation pan would accurately predict evapotranspiration when placed in an actual irrigated field situation. Two potato fields in Southern Idaho with different micro-climates and soil types were used in this study. The in-field evaporation pan method was compared with the gravimetric method and the Jensen-Haise and modified-Penman climatic methods. Yield and quality responses were evaluated by varying the amount of sprinkler-applied water so that three distinct moisture regimes were evaluated. It was also necessary to evaluate recent crop coefficient (K_c) curves on potatoes to see if the K_{c …}

A Multi-Year Analysis Of Irrigation Practices Affecting Salt Outflow: A Case Study In Uintah Basin, Joel R. Cannon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Colorado River is subject to a salinity problem which affects the downstream user. It has been suggested that approximately 40% of the salinity in the Colorado River results from irrigation return flow. The evapotranspiration process extracts nearly pure water for plant use leaving behind soluable salts which may become part of the return flow. These salts adversely affect the crop yield for the downstream user.

Farmers' contributions to the irrigation return flow have been criticized. With the criticisms have been many suggestions on salinity control, including restriction of salt outflow at the farm level through either voluntary or mandatory …

Optimal Allocation Of Irrigation Water: The Sevier River Basin, Harold H. Hiskey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Economic efficiency criteria are used to optimally allocate irrigation water in a closed river basin (Sevier River). The Basin is geographically divided into four subbasins. Linear programming model were developed for each of the four areas and used to generate value of marginal product schedules by parametric variation of water during the late irrigation season (after July 1). Differences in value of marginal product for average annual water deliveries were indications of a malallocation of late season water. A reallocation involving 28 percent of the restraining input (water) would increase net farm incomes (returns to capital, labor, and management) an …

Relative Rates Of Return To Controlled Irrigation Among Classes Of Summer Paddy In The Guayas Basin, Ecuador, Percy G. Aitken

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The primary objective of this study was to examine rice production methods with special emphasis on farm and water irrigation management practices in the different rice farm types of the Guayas Basin of Ecuador. To do this, farmers were divided into eight categories on the basis of farm practices, seasonal farming, irrigation facilities and level of mechanization. Profits per hectare ranged from 4,807 to 762.10 sucres per hectare. Mechanization varied from totally mechanized to total absence of machinery. Year round farming varied to seasonal farming. Average production varied from 110 quintals of hulled rice to 20 quintals per hectare.

The …

A History And Economic Analysis Of The Hyrum Reclamation Project, Douglas Eldon Brinley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Reclamation Ac t of 1902 was sign ed into law under the hand of President Theodore Roosevelt on June 17 of that year, culminating years of efforts to involve the federal government in reclamation projects. Prior to this Congress had enacted a variety of land laws designed to encourage private enterprise to develop the land and water resources of the nation, but had resisted using federal funds to construct reclamation works. The early land laws, however, served only as a temporary satisfaction to Western settlers, and Congress finally yielded to the pressure for assistance.