From a Technical Perspective

By Larry Peach

Land Leveling To Improve Winter Flooding And Water Storage In Lower Klamath Lake

Because of the unique soils of Lower Klamath Lake (peat topsoil with a clay sub soil), they have a very high water hold capacity. Several farmers in Lower Lake over the years have taken advantage of winter flooding or off season irrigation to fill the soil profile with water for the next year’s crop. Thus reducing the need for spring and early summer irrigations and in some cases they can produce a crop grain with out any irrigation the next year.

One main problem with winter flooding or preseason irrigation in the Lower Lake is the fields are uneven with low and high spots that make water management difficult. The low spots remain wet for long periods of time causing losses of soil nutrients, delay planting, and poor plant growth. While the high areas in the field tend to dry out more quickly, hold less water, and accumulate salts. Leveling would greatly benefit crops such as alfalfa, pasture, as well as grain, which can not tolerate standing water for long period of time.

Recently several Lower Lake growers have indicated a strong interest in land leveling to take advantage of available off season irrigation water and help improve water conservation and water management. By leveling the fields, less water can be applied uniformly and drained off quickly. This would not only allow earlier planting and reduce soil nutrient loss, but would also reduce early summer water demands on Klamath Lake. Growers in the Lower Klamath Lake agree that if they winter flood or pre irrigate they can eliminate one or two early summer irrigations on the next season’s crop.

There is approximately 21,000 acres of private owned irrigated land in Lower Klamath Lake, of which most could be winter flooded or pre irrigated. In addition, there are other areas in the Klamath Basin with similar soils that could adapt to this type of practice. This has potential for some cheap water storage. We already have all the all the tools in place, the canals, ditches, dikes, drains and pumps. All that is needed is some leveling, or in some cases, land smoothing of the fields to improve water management for off season irrigation.

The NRCS is currently taking this practice under consideration. The Lower Klamath Lake growers and the KSWCD hope that cost share funds can be made available for this practice.