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Do-h-yourseK cOiversions
I I
y1 mmmmtm All ii.iWrTa.i . m
: 1 ,n. -4
By BOB DAVIS
This year there will have
been over 100 miles of
diversion ditches laid out in
Morrow County. Nearly four
million feet are now on the
ground within the county.
Each field has its own
problems and opportunities.
To finish with a good system of
diversions that effectively
reduce erosion and are easy to
farm, adequate planning and
lay-out time must be taken.
Four key factors influencing
the spacing and location of
diversions must be remem
bered. They are (1) slope of
the field, 2) soils, (3) avail
ability of outlets and (4)
tillage practices.
As slope increases, the
potential for erosion acceler
ates since the velocity of the
run-off water is greater. This
tells us that to reduce the soil
loss on steep ground the diver
sions have to be closer
together.
Soils have a direct effect on
the rate that erosion can
occur. Normally, the more
shallow the soil, the greater
! O.J. Kemmerer I
! Earth Moving Contractor
! Ukiah,Ore.
; Dozer and Diversion
' Terraces j
Boeing Agri-Industrial
Company
Salutes the fine work of
the Morrow Soil and Water
Conservation. District.
Uoardman, Ore.
CAN WE HELP?
Dozers-Graders-Scrapers
for
Diversion and Ditch
Maintenance
Land Leveling
Silt Dams
Jim Phegley
676-5034
Heppner, Ore.
the run -off. The soil profile
acts as a water reservoir.
When the size of the reservoir :
or depth of the soil is small the
less time it takes to fill the
reservoir or soil profile. Ac-
cetera ted erosion then occurs
when the soil can no longer
hold any additional water.
Intake rate of each soil also
differs. This can be changed
slightly by incorporating or
ganic matter into the top soil.
The intake rate is not
usually the reason for erosion
occurring oh the wheaU-,
summer fallow land within the
county. Only under cloudburst
conditions does the rainfall
rate exceed the intake rate.
The problem of inadequate
outlets can make it seem
impossible to drain a field.
Outlets should be areas that
will not erode or cause a new
problem. This may be a
natural or a man-made outlet.
Tillage practices have a
surprisingly large effect on
diversion spacing. Stubble
mulch farming instead of
moldhnard plowing can make
it possible to space the
diversions father apart. Con
tour seeding can also have the
same effect.
In diversion layout and
construction there should be
enough grade in the ditch to
present siltation but not so
steep as to cause the bottom of
the ditch to erode. A grade
from 14 to 16 inches per
hundred feet is adequate.
With or without the cost
share program the Soil Con
servation Service, in assisting
the Morrow SWCD, continues
to provide technical assist
ance to farmers and ranchers
in laying out diversions and
other practices. In some cases
farmers may wish to lay out
their own diversions. Hand
levels can be purchased for
$12 to $15. Cheaper models are
available, however, it is
recommended that a level that
can be adjusted for correction
be purchased.
Diversion construction work on 10-20 per cent slopes of
Morrow Soils.
Some operators use a build
ers level and a rod. The rod
can be easily made from 2 x
2s. The target on the rod can
be painted on to the rod
permanently or the target can
be nailed on the rod.
Flags or stakes should be
placed at a spacing of 100 feet.
The distance can be paced.
Grade can be changed
slightly from one end of the
ditch to the other. The grade
should never be reduced
within a ditch. If a change in
grade is necessary, always
increase it. For example if you
start at the upper end of a
diversion at 1 per cent grade,
it is possible to Increase the
grade to 1 ' i per cent at some
location farther down the
diversion.
The useful life span of the
standard diversion is approxi
mately 10 years. With proper
ly scheduled maintenance, the
investment that the individual
farmer and the U. S. taxpayer
have put into the work
rapidly loses its value.
PiriltUi (rail CrtVfrt !
IIKHMISTON
Complete line of Custom Feed
Fertilizer Irrigation
Pierce Circles, Pierce Wheel
Rolls Acme Portables
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w i
I Morrow County
I Farm Service
Fertilizers and Farm
jj Chemicals
Boardman Heppner
jj Borlex
n
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Congratulations
Morrow Soil & Water Conserva
tion District in your efforts to im
prove land use and resources.
Office at Boardman, Ore.
P.O. Box 315
481-2225