Oakes Test Area
There are about 40 miles of subsurface pipe drains in the Oakes Test Area (OTA). These drains must be cleaned periodically for satisfactory operation. The accepted technology has been to clean these drains with a high-pressure water nozzle; however, this method is quite expensive and, in some cases, ineffective.
Beginning in the summer of 1999, Oakes O&M forces have been testing a brush system to clean these drains. The tests showed this to be a feasible method, and different sizes of brushes were purchased early in 2000, which are being utilized to clean the larger diameter drains. This is one of the first places in the United States where agricultural drains have been cleaned with this system of brushes, and this method has proven to be quite effective. It is faster and more economical than the high-pressure nozzle system.
A 40 by 80 foot cold storage building was constructed in November 2000. Studies have shown that a building such as this can be easily justified by the savings generated as a result of storing the equipment inside as compared to storing it outside.
The present supervisory control system for the 5,000-acre OTA is becoming obsolete and is very expensive to operate. In addition, there is no firm water supply to assure adequate irrigation water for this area. To alleviate this problem, an operational study was initiated to determine the most economical method(s) to deliver water in anticipation of the transfer of ownership of these facilities from Reclamation to the water users.
Several alternatives for a simplified and more economical O&M program were identified through a value engineering study completed in August 2000. These alternatives are:
- Abandonment of the project facilities
- Eliminate all lateral plants and operate the Oakes pumping plant and open channels with individual water user turnouts
- Eliminate 2 of 3 lateral plants, otherwise same as 2. above
- Eliminate all lateral plants, close canals and construct pipeline from the Oakes pumping plant along canal alignment for supply to users
No decision has been reached relative to alternative selection or further operational studies. Ownership transfer of the OTA facilities is included as part of the Dakota Water Resources Act legislation, and its passage may trigger more work on this and related studies for the OTA.
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