Drainage - Texas A&M Universityriogrande.tamu.edu/media/3878/drainage.pdf · Agricultural...

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Agricultural DrainageAgricultural DrainageJ. Phillip King, P.E.,J. Phillip King, P.E., PhPh.D..D.

Associate Professor/Associate Dept. HeadAssociate Professor/Associate Dept. HeadDepartment of Civil, Agricultural, & Geological EngineeringDepartment of Civil, Agricultural, & Geological Engineering

New Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State University

Drained ConditionUndrained Condition

Classes of Subsurface Drainage Classes of Subsurface Drainage DesignsDesigns

• Steady-state– Humid regions– Control steady water table

• Non-steady state– Arid, Irrigated– Drop water table after

irrigation/rainfall

• Interceptor– Protect cropland from

source of high groundwater

Primary Functions of Agricultural Primary Functions of Agricultural DrainsDrains

• Control of water table – root zone aeration– EBID– Drainage density of 20 f/acre

• Removal of salt from root zone– HCCRD– Drainage density of 22 f/acre plus field

systems

Yield effects of SalinityYield effects of Salinity

Drain Installation Drain Installation –– Then & NowThen & Now

Ca. 1900 Ca. 2000

The local drainage systemsThe local drainage systems

• Open ditch• Installed in 1920s-

1930s• Functions:

– Water table control– Salt removal– Storm water

conveyance– Operational spill return

Seasonal and LongSeasonal and Long--Term Drain Term Drain Hydrology Hydrology –– West DrainWest Drain

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

01/80 07/80 12/80 06/81 12/81 06/82 12/82 06/83 12/83 06/84 12/84

Mon

thly

Flo

w, A

F

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985

Ann

ual F

low

, AF

Drain Water Quality Drain Water Quality –– West DrainWest Drain

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

05/79 12/79 06/80 01/81 08/81 02/82 09/82 03/83 10/83 04/84 11/84 06/85

TDS,

mg/

L

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

Q, A

F/M

onth

TDS, mg/LQ, AF

Drain flows between the statesDrain flows between the states

LongLong--Term Salt BalanceTerm Salt Balance

• Mass Balance: QinTDSin - QoutTDSout• Elephant Butte to El Paso (Courchesne

Bridge)– 90,640 acres of EBID + 10,000 acres of

EPCWID• Courchesne Bridge to Fort Quitman

– 59,000 acres of EPCWID + 18,000 acres of HCCRD

– Mexico (???)

Salt Balance, Elephant Butte to Salt Balance, Elephant Butte to El PasoEl Paso

Salt Balance, El Paso to Salt Balance, El Paso to Fort QuitmanFort Quitman

The FutureThe Future

Legal Considerations– Possible changes in water quality regulations– Urbanization and municipal use of Project

Water– Changes in Project operation

• Environmental Considerations– Drains as habitat– Restoration efforts on drains– Illegal dumping in drains

Picacho Drain Bosque ParkPicacho Drain Bosque Park

• City of Las Cruces, EBID, and Southwest Environment Center

• NM Fish and Game land• Picacho Drain right-of-way• No increased depletion due to habitat

restoration– Offset open water evaporation with removal of

large, dense canopy salt cedar• Drain function is paramount

Picacho DrainPicacho Drain

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