Nutrient losses from an irrigated watershed in southern Idaho

Water, sediment and nutrients flowing into and out of the 82,000 ha Twin Falls,ID irrigation tract were measured from 2005 to 2008. Approximately 80% of the water flowing into the watershed was irrigation water diverted from the Snake River. About 40% of the watershed inflow returned to the Snake River. Much of this return flow was water from subsurface drain tiles and tunnels that drain shallow groundwater. Converting from furrow to sprinkler irrigation, improved irrigation management, and constructed sediment ponds have reduced sediment loss from 460 kg/ha in 1971 to