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Bridging-the-Headgate in North Dakota
Shared Funding
Reclamation’s Dakotas Area Office (DKAO) participates in a Bridging-the-Headgate cooperative agreement with North Dakota State University (NDSU) and the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District to provide shared funding of an Extension Irrigation Specialist position. The objective of the agreement is to provide local, federal and state coordination and collaboration on planning, educational, and demonstration activities related to irrigation development and water conservation within the Garrison Diversion Project. NDSU has significant irrigation expertise and all parties have a vested interest in efficiently utilizing water resources in the state. NRCS has formally contributed to this effort by providing presentations about potential application of the Ground and Surface Water component of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), at a number of the irrigation workshops organized by the irrigation specialist. NRCS and Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) field personnel have benefited by attending several of these workshops.
Irrigation District Training and Education Opportunities
Reclamation provides financial assistance through their Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP) to enable water entities to participate in education and training activities related to water management and water operations. Reclamation also has an agreement with North Dakota State University (NDSU) to provide educational information and activities to Reclamation water users. Activities have included workshops and field-days which provided forums for the discussion of irrigation water management, irrigation scheduling, estimating crop water use, and improving irrigation efficiencies. Reclamation participates in Children’s Water Festivals in North Dakota as an opportunity to educate elementary grade students in all facets of water.Conservation Technology - Demonstration Activities
Through Reclamation's cooperative agreement with North Dakota State University, innovative conservation technologies are demonstrated to water users. NDSU personnel have demonstrated more efficient management of surface irrigation methods using surge valves, evaluated seepage problems on district facilities, continued to improve and develop effective intake structures that don't plug while pumping irrigation water from a shallow river, investigated a river intake infiltration gallery to supply water free of sediment and floating debris for center pivots, explored alternative intake designs, conducted irrigation pumping plant performance tests, adapted the checkbook irrigation scheduling method to operate on a handheld personal computer, and continued to develop user-friendly computer based irrigation scheduling tools.Canal Sealant and Seepage Reduction Demonstration Project
Reclamation entered a cooperative agreement for conservation demonstration and implementation with Buford-Trenton Irrigation District to demonstrate and evaluate a sealant to reduce canal seepage. Irrigation districts cannot afford the expense of lining large canals, or replacing canals with pipelines, without substantial financial assistance. The use of a canal sealant to reduce seepage is a cost effective alternative for irrigation districts to consider. The district modified their applicator to more efficiently apply the product after discussing the project with other Reclamation districts. North Dakota NRCS has approved the application of polyacrylamide (PAM) as a cost sharable component practice under the EQIP program.DKAO - Xeriscape Landscape Demonstration
Reclamation has a cooperative agreement with the City of Fargo, ND, to conduct a landscape water conservation demonstration. Data is being compiled and analyzed comparing conventional lawn water use to Xeriscape landscapes. A Xeriscape demonstration and educational garden was also developed in cooperation with the city of Fargo, ND. The garden illustrates plantings of very low, low, and moderate water use, alternative turf grasses, a native prairie demonstration, and a riparian plant demonstration. To obtain more information or receive a copy of their free booklet "Discover the Beauty of Xeriscape", visit this site.Implementation of Conservation Measures
Reclamation has cooperative agreements with three irrigation districts in North Dakota to cost-share the implementation of approved conservation measures. The measures are: implementing water measurement and accounting systems, installing and rehabilitating water measurement structures, calibrating water control structures, purchasing flow measurement equipment, testing pumping plant efficiency and pump performance, replacing open laterals with pipelines, purchasing surge valves and gated pipe, converting from flood irrigation to sprinkler systems, converting sprinkler systems to drop nozzles and lower pressure, rebuilding pumps to provide optimum pressure and field uniformity, utilizing a spray-on canal sealant, providing training to district personnel on water measurement, water district operation and maintenance, and canal operation and automation. NRCS and local soil and water conservation districts participated in this B-T-H effort by putting in place a number of EQIP contracts in these irrigation districts for conversion of flood irrigation to sprinkler irrigation and for enhanced irrigation water management. It is fairly common in these types of efforts for Reclamation to fund a portion of the “PROJECT” costs (canal work, pumps etc.) and NRCS to fund a portion of the “FIELD” costs (pivot pipeline etc.)The Bureau of Reclamation report that contains this and other information can be viewed here.
