Drainage from an Irrigation District Perspective DISTRICT MANAGER,

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1 Drainage from an Irrigation District Perspective IRRIGATED CROP PRODUCTION UPDATE LETHBRIDGE, JANUARY 20, 2016 CHRIS GALLAGHER, P.ENG DISTRICT MANAGER, TABER IRRIGATION DISTRICT

2 Acknowledgements Ted Harms, Soil and Water Specialist, AF, Brooks, AB Bruce Shewfelt, PBS Water Engineering Ltd., Morden, MB Jack Dunsmore, MD of Taber Jason Cayford, EP, Lethbridge

3 Overview of TID Approach

4 Specialty Crop Country 83,263 irrigated acres (2014) 3 reservoirs 142 km canals 195 km pipelines

5 TID as Receiving Body Taber Irrigation District receives and conveys the majority of storm and drain water generated within our boundaries into our canals, reservoirs & drains: Directly drain inlets off the field Indirectly via neighbour s field, MD road borrow This affects TID hydraulically: Capacity, scour/sedimentation, sloughing This affects TID water quality: TSS, nutrients, biological Consent of receiving body required for Water Act Approval

6 TID Strategic Plan Objective 1.2 Goal #1: Provide the Best Possible Water Quality Objective 1.2: Improve water quality throughout the district through a surface water mitigation program that will Prioritize problems Collaborate to improve land management and stormwater control Develop administrative tools such as proactive runoff conveyance agreements Install engineered solutions such as holding ponds, controlled drain inlets, and integrated water treatment structures/processes into drains and reservoirs

7 TID General Approach to Drainage Infrastructure TID is the default drainage conveyance in our area When pipelines are installed, we retain the canal s drainage function To regulate reservoir and spillway inflows To accommodate historical conveyance from adjacent fields To retain regional drainage We work to attenuate flood surges and mitigate water quality Use old canal like detention pond Allow or promote vegetation to act as filter

8 TID Lateral 3 East Horsefly

9 Drainage Requests in TID Types Incomplete Drainage Wet pockets (tractor traps) Trapped Lows Relocation of drainage course Urban Development or Re- Development Methods Tile Drain (Gravity/Pump) Surface Gravity Surface Pump

10 TID Approach to Drainage Policy (1/2) Evolving process still learning Requested or identified new or changed drainage Farmer-centred approach Improved land management through soil-water management Irrigation and drainage to optimize soil moisture Input management to meet crop requirements Gary Sands University of Minnesota

11 TID Approach to Drainage Policy (2/2) Comply with legal requirements Water Act, MGA, IDA Avoid adverse impact to other water users Maximize benefit to district Hydrology Water Quality Evolving

12 Current Forms of TID Consent Letter of Consent with Conditions typical agricultural Condition #1 is that Approvals under applicable Acts are required Water Act Wetland Policy Condition #2 is other party consent required (eg. MD for road borrow use) Others such as ability to regulate/shut off, erosion protection, liability Water Conveyance Agreement urban municipal, industrial, large Similar conditions, only formalized Both encourage use of good design and BMPs

13 Field Drainage Design

14 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

15 Gary Sands University of Minnesota

16 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

17 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

18 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

19 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

20 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

21 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

22 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

23 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

24 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

25 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

26 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

27 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

28 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

29 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

30 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

31 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

32 Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

33 Conservation Drainage KEEPING YOUR INPUTS & IMPROVING DRAIN WATER QUALITY

34 Gary Sands University of Minnesota

35 Management Strategies (1/3) Liebig s Law of the Minimum: Yield is limited by the nutrient that is in the least supply Over-application leachate is wasted & can enter TID Follow best management for application. Eg. incorporation, banding

36 Management Strategies (2/3) Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

37 Management Strategies (3/3) Slide from Ted Harms, Agriculture and Forestry

38 Modify Drainage Systems Strategies (1/2) Drainage Water Management From WQ-44, Purdue Extension

39 Modify Drainage System Strategies (2/2) Recycling Drainage Drainage runs to on-farm collection reservoir Pump from reservoir through main irrigation system Subirrigation Irrigate Dry Pond with Alfalfa, Timothy Hay or other forage crop Excess runs to irrigation district drainage Mitigated by residence in primary recycling system Retention slow release Emergency overflow

40 Edge of Field and Downstream Strategies (1/3)

41 Edge of Field and D/S Strategies (2/3) Saturated Buffers Gary Sands University of Minnesota

42 Edge of Field and D/S Strategies (3/3) Grassed Swale in TID Gary Sands University of Minnesota

43 Wetlands Taber Reservoir Gary Sands University of Minnesota

44 Summary TID recognizes the desire to manage excess water TID encourages on-site management TID will accept drainage WITH CONDITIONS We are all learning about best management practices Conditions are evolving Chris Gallagher, TID