Strategies for water management in gravity sprinkle irrigation systems

The study examined various management strategies implementable for equitable allocation of water among users in a gravity sprinkle irrigation system (GSIS). A computer model was developed and employed to effect allocations under three scenarios or variations thereof, namely, on-demand, rotation, and continuous supply. Historical streamflow records and climatic data for 3 years, 1979, 1986 and 1983, representing normal, dry and wet years, respectively, were used. Equitable water distribution consideration took into account shares of stock for water held by each user in the irrigation company. Allocations were proportionately determined in relation to the numeric strength of the usersʹ stock when the demand for water was constrained by the available streamflow. The developed management strategies were applied to a real-life irrigation project, the Richmond Irrigation Company at Richmond, UT. Pure on-demand strategy proved to be the most beneficial project-wide, costs of augmentation notwithstanding.