Impact of irrigation water use on water quality in the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District

Impact of irrigation water use on water quality in the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District Emond, Henriette M. ; Loftis, Jim C. ; Podmore, Terence H. Irrigation efficiency -- Central Colorado Water Conservancy District Water quality -- Central Colorado Water Conservancy District Irrigation -- Environmental aspects -- Central Colorado Water Conservancy District Irrigation -- Central Colorado Water Conservancy District -- Management "December 15, 1993" "Completion Report No. 179" "Grant No. 14-08-0001-G2008-2, Project No. 02" "... were financed in part by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Geological Survey, through the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute ... This publication is a product of the Natural Resources Law Center, a research and public education center at the University of Colorado School of Law." 26 p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 25) This paper presents the results of a two year study sponsored by the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, the United State Geological Survey, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency on the impact of irrigation water use on water quality in the agricultural area near Greeley, Colorado. Data on water management techniques, consumptive use, irrigation application efficiency, deep percolation, surface runoff and nitrate levels were collected. Results indicated a wide range of application efficiencies and deep percolation percentages. Nitrate levels in the pumped ground water often exceeded EPA drinking water standards, while nitrate levels of water from the South Platte River were generally below the drinking water standards. There are opportunities for improving irrigation application efficiency in this area, but there may be repercussions for downstream water users. Decreasing the quantity of nitrate going into the ground water can occur through increased water conservation and through reducing the actual amount of nitrates applied in the irrigation water or fertilizers. There is currently little incentive for farmers to implement these measures. Colorado State University. Libraries Colorado Water Resources Research Institute Geological Survey (U.S.) 1993 text application/pdf COMP179.pdf CCRICWRI100028CRPT eng Completion report (Colorado Water Resources Research Institute) ; no. 179 Colorado c1993 Colorado Water Resources Research Institute

Impact of irrigation water use on water quality in the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District

Emond, Henriette M. ; Loftis, Jim C. ; Podmore, Terence H.

Irrigation efficiency -- Central Colorado Water Conservancy District

Water quality -- Central Colorado Water Conservancy District

Irrigation -- Environmental aspects -- Central Colorado Water Conservancy District

Irrigation -- Central Colorado Water Conservancy District -- Management

"December 15, 1993"

"Completion Report No. 179"

"Grant No. 14-08-0001-G2008-2, Project No. 02"

"... were financed in part by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Geological Survey, through the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute ... This publication is a product of the Natural Resources Law Center, a research and public education center at the University of Colorado School of Law."

26 p.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 25)

This paper presents the results of a two year study sponsored by the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, the United State Geological Survey, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency on the impact of irrigation water use on water quality in the agricultural area near Greeley, Colorado. Data on water management techniques, consumptive use, irrigation application efficiency, deep percolation, surface runoff and nitrate levels were collected. Results indicated a wide range of application efficiencies and deep percolation percentages. Nitrate levels in the pumped ground water often exceeded EPA drinking water standards, while nitrate levels of water from the South Platte River were generally below the drinking water standards. There are opportunities for improving irrigation application efficiency in this area, but there may be repercussions for downstream water users. Decreasing the quantity of nitrate going into the ground water can occur through increased water conservation and through reducing the actual amount of nitrates applied in the irrigation water or fertilizers. There is currently little incentive for farmers to implement these measures.

Colorado State University. Libraries

Colorado Water Resources Research Institute

Geological Survey (U.S.)

1993

text

application/pdf

COMP179.pdf

CCRICWRI100028CRPT

eng

Completion report (Colorado Water Resources Research Institute) ; no. 179

Colorado

c1993 Colorado Water Resources Research Institute