California Energy Commission Agricultural Peak Load Reduction Program Case Study: Kaweah River Power Authority and Tulare ID

Tulare Irrigation District (TID) is located on the east side of the Central San Joaquin Valley just south of Visalia, CA. The district receives water from Lake Kaweah through Terminus Dam as well as from the Friant-Kern Canal. TID is the single largest partner in the Kaweah River Power Authority (KRPA), which operates Terminus Dam and regulates the discharge from Lake Kaweah

Chemigation and Fertigation Basics for California

Chemigation is the application of any chemical through an irrigation system. Examples of chemicals include insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers, water amendments, soil amendments, and compounds used to reduce plugging of drip emitters. Proper chemigation reduces energy consumption (less fertilizer, chemicals, and tractor travel) and improves crop quality and yields. Fertigation accounts for the majority of chemigation. The sophistication of fertigation knowledge and practices is at about the same level as drip/microirrigation was in the mid-1970s. A lot of equipment and chemicals exist, and many farmers use fertigation, but only a relatively small percentage of those farmers are sophisticated users

Oiler for Vertical Pump Lineshaft Lubrication

This document provides technical advice for controlling the dripping of oil for oil-lubricated vertical lineshaft pumps for irrigation

Irrigation District Observations on Large Diameter, Low Pressure Pipeline Materials

There are approximately 1,400 miles of low pressure non-reinforced cast-in-place ( monolithic or CIP ) concrete pipe in California irrigation districts. Cast-in-place pipe was irrigation districts’ material of choice for large diameter pipelines from 1930 to at least 1980. Many of these pipelines were installed in the early 1900’s. They are predominately found on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley, from Manteca in the north to Visalia in the south. Most of these pipes are deteriorating and will need to be replaced within the next 10-20 years. Irrigation districts have attempted to find new ways to repair these pipes. However, their uneven dimensions (they were often made with crude local installation equipment), high density of repairs (meaning that the pipe wall thicknesses and cross sections now vary), numerous connections, and non-linear placement have ruled out using available pipe liner technology. The cost to line these pipes is about the same as the cost to completely replace them. Due to the high replacement cost and need for repair, the last decade has seen a switch away from cast-in-place pipelines to pipelines of other materials. However, up until now there has been no general consensus as to the best replacement option. In November 2002, the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) met at Madera ID with representatives from eight irrigation districts and one engineering firm to discuss reasons for switching types of pipes, and what alternative materials might be available

Where is all that Water Going?

Some have proposed to conserve 4-6 Million AF/yr in Agriculture with pragmatic, economical measures. All we need to do is find the inefficiencies. Then we\u27ll get rid of them

Adjustable Magnetic Coupler

Efficiency in terms of power consumption is vital and continues to be increasingly important. The use of adjustable speed pumps can reduce energy consumption and improve controllability of pressure or flows. One such technology, the MagnaDrive coupler, has been developed for service in a variety of applications

Canal Lining

Larry and I thought that some musings about canal lining might be of some interest for some of you USCID newsletter readers. As you know, there are many canal lining techniques – especially if one considers the wide assortment of internationally used lining methods

The Irrigation Sector Shift From Construction to Modernization: What is Required for Success?

External pressures related to environmental protection, commodity prices, energy availability, larger populations, and climate change have combined to require an immediate and substantial improvement in agricultural irrigation performance. Worldwide progression towards modernized irrigation projects has been uneven and slower than desired, but decades of irrigation modernization development have clarified certain requirements for success, as well as illuminated indicators of project failure. Of particular importance are required shifts within the state and national irrigation bureaucracies, as well as universities