BULLETIN OF THE 
No. 115 
Contribution from the Office of Experiment Stations, A. C. True, Director. 
September 1, 1914. 
(PROFESSIONAL PAPER.) 
GATE STRUCTURES FOR IRRIGATION CANALS. 
By Fred C. Scobey, 
Irrigation Engineer, Irrigation Investigations. 
INTRODUCTION. 
A study of the irrigated regions of the West shows that the designs 
and special features of structures have been copied and adapted one 
from another, but usually within the bounds of one locality. Two 
sections with quite similar conditions show great divergencies in 
structures used for the same purposes. This is true largely for the 
reason that those who design the structures have neither the time nor 
the means to travel and learn how others are handling similar situa- 
tions. The purpose of this bulletin is to bring together designs 
adapted to many localities, in order that the practice of the whole 
country may be available to those who design structures. 
The purpose of all gates considered in this bulletin is the control 
of the flow of water in ditches or canal systems. Headgates and 
floodgates regulate the water entering the system from the source 
of supply; check gates regulate the water while within the canal; 
sand and waste gates control the water which is to be turned out and 
wasted; and branch canal, lateral, and delivery gates regulate the 
water turned out to branches of the system or to users. Bifurcation 
works and division gates usually serve the combined purposes of 
check gates and branch canal or lateral gates, and are used to regulate 
the flow of water in the main canal and also of that passing into 
branches or laterals. 
For the most part small and medium-size structures are dealt with, 
as it is believed that most of the problems confronting the engineer 
located in isolated parts of the West relate to structures of this class. 
The bulletin should also be of value to directors of mutual water 
companies, who are themselves irrigators and who are called upon to 
pass on questions of construction and maintenance. 
Note. — This paper will be of interest to engineers and directors of farmers' canal 
companies in the irrigated sections of the West. 
45613°— Bull. 115—14 1 
