BULLETIN OF THE 
No. 190 
Contribution from the Office of Experiment Stations, A. C. True, Director. 
April 24, 1915. 
THE DRAINAGE OF IRRIGATED LAND, 
By R. A. Hart, Supervising Drainage Engineer. 
CONTENTS. 
Introduction 1 
Manifestations of poor drainage conditions. . . 2 
Specific objects oi draining 2 
Preliminary investigations 2 
Open canals 4 
Covered drains 5 
Choice of type of drain 8 
Location of open canals 10 
Depth and location of covered drains 10 
Protective devices for open canals 13 
Page. 
Protective devices for covered drains 15 
Some typical problems and their treatment. . 18 
Construction of drains 24 
Maintenance 28 
Subsequent treatment of land 29 
What drainage accomplishes 31 
Cost of draining 32 
Cooperative drainage 33 
Conclusion 34 
INTRODUCTION. 
It is now generally recognized that irrigated land may become 
waterlogged and impregnated with harmful mineral salts, and that 
drainage must be the means of the reclamation of land so affected. 
Already, in the United States, more than 10 per cent of the entire 
area that has been irrigated for any considerable period is either 
absolutely unproductive or is given over to the less valuable crops 
or to poor pastures; while even in the most recently developed irri- 
gation projects serious injury is being wrought. These injured 
lands are to be found in all the arid and semiarid States and in 
practically every valley where irrigation is a factor in the agricul- 
tural development. 
The feasibility of reclaiming these waterlogged and alkali lands 
has been demonstrated in numerous experiments, and methods have 
been developed by which the work can be done effectively and 
economically. It is the purpose of this bulletin to present in con- 
cise form the fundamental principles upon which the reclamation of 
such land is based, to describe typical conditions and the best 
methods of treating them, and to give practical advice as to actual 
operations. 
Note.— The information in this bulletin is intended for drainage engineers and landowners of the arid 
West. It is not applicable to the humid section of the United States. 
77733°— Bull. 190—15 1 
