546 



designed to complement such ongoing programs as the Review of Operation and 



Maintenance Program and the General Investigations Program. 



Through such assistance. Reclamation will assist districts to identify 



opportunities to better manage, augment, utilize, or conserve available water 



supplies. 



Current Status Ongoing. New Reclamation -wide criteria for evaluating water 

 conservation plans are currently being developed for the 

 purpose of assisting districts in the updating of their 

 existing water conservation plans. Beginning in January 

 1994. Reclamation will begin a formal review of all existing 

 water conservation plans for adequacy based on these 

 criteria. Reclamation is encouraging districts to update 

 their plans and submit them for this review. 



Contact: Allen Powers. Manager. Regional Water Conservation Center. Boise. 

 Idaho. 208-378-5280. 



Lake Chelan Reclamation District Water Management and Conservation Program 



Background 



The Manson Unit of the Chief Joseph Dam Project, Chelan Division is referred 

 to as the Lake Chelan Reclamation District (District). The district has 

 approximately 6.500 irrigated acres made up of primarily apple orchards. The 

 irrigation system consists of a pressure pipeline that was constructed between 

 1971 and 1976. The District water supply is provided from one major pump 

 station located on Lake Chelan. Twelve additional pump stations, located 

 throughout the district, serve to pressurize the system. Portions of the 

 District's system have the capacity to provide irrigation water on demand, 

 with the exception of a few weeks during the peak demand season. In the 

 remaining portions of the District, demand for irrigation water often exceeds 

 the system capacity. 



The District developed a comprehensive water conservation plan in July of 

 1992. Within the plan, the District outlined several components targeting 

 improvements in irrigation scheduling, real-time monitoring of pump operations 

 and water accounting. These components will be implemented in two phases over 

 a three year period. Phase 1 is to be completed during 1993 and will consist 

 of: (1) the installation of remote monitoring equipment and Radio Frequency 

 (RF) telemetry at selected pump stations. (2) the establishment and RF 

 interfacing of an initial base weather station for crop water use modeling, 

 and (3) the development and implementation of a local irrigation scheduling 

 program that includes establishment of a dedicated computer, soil moisture 

 monitoring equipment and irrigation specialist services. Phase 2 will consist 

 of: (1) installation and interfacing of the remaining pump monitoring sites. 

 (2) installation and interfacing of additional weather stations, and (3) 

 continuation of the on-farm irrigation scheduling demonstration program. 



