Settling basins

Settling Basins

One of the methods implemented to address sediment loading, a settling basin or settling pond, have become widespread across the valley as a quick and simple way to remove sediments out of return flows. Settling basins simply slow down return flows, allowing sediments to settle out of the water before the water returns to the irrigation delivery system or other water body.

This graph shows the decrease in sediment loading over time in settling basins. Each basin's performance will vary depending on detention time, volume, and size. These variables will provide for varying results, but the bottom line, as evidence in the graph above, settling basins work very well removing sedimentation from return flows.

Pictured below is an example of an on-farm settling basin. In this application, return flow from the farm is collected in a settling basin (foreground) before returning to the irrigation canal (background).

SVID farmer settling basin

Click here for information about the RSBOJC Wetland Project.

Click here to learn how SVID irrigators have enhanced water conservation.

Click here for more information about the RSBOJC Water Quality Policy

Recent Drain Study Reports

Click here to read the RSBOJC Fish Survey Report.

Click here to read the RSBOJC Drain Habitat Report (pages 1-48)

Click here to read the RSBOJC Drain Habitat Report Appendix (data)

If you don't currently have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, click here to download this FREE utility. Acrobat Reader is required to view these files. Please be patient, as some of the reports are lengthy and take a few minutes to load.

About | Resources | Water orders | News | Projects

Water Quality & Conservation | RSBOJC | Contact | Home