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Modernization Projects with US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)

 

See below for a couple of examples of ITRC modernization projects with USBR.

• Central California Irrigation District
• Fresno Irrigation District
• Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District
• San Luis Canal Company
• Walker River Irrigation District
• Gila Gravity Main Canal - Yuma
• Patterson Irrigation District
• ITRC Flap Gates
• Government Highline Canal

 

Central California Irrigation District

The 70-mile CCID Main Canal was split into two different control schemes: downstream control of eight existing, optimized check structures along the Lower Main Canal downstream of Ingomar Reservoir; and upstream control of the Upper Main Canal upstream of the reservoir. The modernation project included retrofitting thirteen flashboard check structures with Langemann gates, updating existing radial gates and sluice gates, creating new connections between the Main Canal and 56-mile Outside Canal, and modifying existing headworks of community ditches and major delivery laterals for upstream flow control.

 

Click on the image below for a visual summary of the project.

 

 

Fresno Irrigation District

Click on the image below for a visual summary of the project.

 

 

Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District

Seventeen check structures in the GCID Main Canal have been equipped with their own PLC running specially-tuned automation control code. The new SCADA system allows GCID's operators to remotely monitor and control the system from the office or their mobile devices for the check structures along the entire 62-mile canal.

 

Click on the image below for a visual summary of the project.

 

 

San Luis Canal Company

ITRC has worked with San Luis Canal Company (also called Henry Miller Reclamation District) for over a decade. The system modernization project involved conducting a salt and water balance, spill monitoring, adding new reservoirs, drain water recovery, and adding long-crested weirs to provide water level control. The entire control direction of the water delivery system was changed to decrease spill and regulate flow variations.

 

Click on the image below for a visual summary of the project.

 

 

Walker River Irrigation District

With support from the US Bureau of Reclamation, ITRC has worked with Walker River Irrigation District (WRID) to plan and implement a multi-phase modernization project.  The project has focused on designing and installing six new regulating reservoirs, streamlining the project with three new pipeline systems, and integrating large-scale water measurement and control systems improvements.

 

Click on the image below for a visual summary of the project.

 

 

Gila Gravity Main Canal - Yuma

In 2005, ITRC designed the optimized control for the underflow "Y" check structure on the Gila Gravity Main Canal, about 79,000 feet downstream of the Imperial Dam, and made recommendations for operation and hardware. Additionally, ITRC designed the three radial gates on Imperial Dam for flow control on a new flume. ITRC worked with the Yuma Area Office and Yuma Mesa Irrigation & Drainage District on the specification of the control and monitoring hardware, specification of the control software and monitoring requirements, and development of construction drawings for the Replogle flume.

 

 

Patterson Irrigation District

Working with the Mid-Pacific Region office of the USBR and the California Department of Fish and Game, ITRC assisted Patterson ID in the design and implementation of a multi-faceted system modernization plan. Highlights of the plan include:

 

• Design and construction of an "on-demand" North Recirculation System
• New flow measurement at the head of the Main Canal and improved flow measurement and water level control on laterals
• Automation of Main Canal pumping plants
• New system-wide Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system
• Design of new South Recirculation System

 

Click on the image below for a visual summary of the project.

 

 

ITRC Flap Gates

The ITRC Flap Gate is a simple, inexpensive hydraulic gate for automatic upstream water level control.  It operates steadily at varying flow conditions and maintains the water level elevation typically within ±0.5 inches of design. The only moving parts are two bearings, plus stabilizers. ITRC usually designs and constructs the first ITRC Flap Gate that is used in an irrigation district. Subsequent gates are usually built in-house by the districts because of the simple flat plate construction – often based on ITRC design assistance. The gates are often installed in less than two hours while water is flowing. The ITRC Flap Gate requires no electricity and has been installed at over 300 locations in California. They are ideal for small flows in the 15-50 CFS range, where there is a drop of at least 2.5’ across the structure.

 

ITRC began to investigate early designs of Flap Gates in 1992. The gates originated in The Netherlands in the 1940s, but no design criteria were available. ITRC developed an Excel design program that uses a combination of theory and coefficients from field results – and has continued to improve the program almost every year. District staff at Turlock ID and Chowchilla WD provided valuable feedback with early models. This report includes information on design, installation, maintenance, water conservation and efficiency, cost, use, and benefits.

For updated design details, go to our Flap Gate page and see ITRC Report No. R 07-001.

 

 

Government Highline Canal

A 50-mile canal in Grand Junction, Colo., operated by the Grand Valley Water Users Assoc., has been modernized according to ITRC recommendations. An extensive engineering study involved placement of new gates, modeling the canal, designing of reservoir sites, a new SCADA system, etc. Close coordination was required with the GVWUA and local USBR office, along with other subcontractors (USBR technical office and Iowa Inst. of Hyd. Res.). For details, see ITRC Report No. R 03-009.

 

Click on the image below for a visual summary of the project.