Erosion and Sedimentation on Irrigated Lands

Most erosion on irrigated land is caused by the irrigation itself. Surface irrigation -- where water is applied directly to the surface as in furrow or border irrigation -- can be very erosive. Data from southern Idaho show that large quantities of sediment may be generated within an irrigation system; however, less sediment may be returned to the river than is diverted with the water supply. Technology for reducing erosion from irrigated fields is available: irrigation systems may be modified or changed, fields may be leveled or profiled to nonerosive slopes, tillage operations can be reduced, vegetative filter strips and drain ditch elevation control will remove sediment, or sediment ponds may be used after runoff leaves the field. Erosion and sedimentation are active processes on much of the irrigated land of the United States. Erosion may be caused by rainfall or wind, but the bulk of the erosion on irrigated land is caused by the irrigation itself