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Effects of changing irrigation practices on the ground-water hydrology of the Santa Isabel-Juana Díaz area, south central Puerto Rico

Water-Resources Investigations Report 91-4183
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https://doi.org/10.3133/wri914183

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Abstract

Prior to 1930, the principal source of water for irrigation in the Santa Isabel-Juana Diaz area was surface water from outside the study area, which was delivered by a complex channel-pond system. Recharge from water applied to the fields, estimated to be 18.7 million of gallons per day, and discharge by ground-water flow to sea, estimated to be 17 million of gallons per day, were the major water- budget components prior to intensive development of the ground-water resources. Development of the ground-water resources after 1930 resulted in a substantial increase in irrigation, primarily furrow irrigation. The surface water supplied by the complex channel-pond system continued to be used and ground-water withdrawals increased sub- stantially. By 1966-68, ground-water recharge from irrigation water applied to the fields, estimated to be 37 million of gallons per day, and discharge by pumpage for irrigation, estimated to be 77 million of gallons per day, were the two major components of the ground-water budget. By 1987, drip irrigation had become the principal method of irrigation in the study area, and surface-water irrigation had, for the most part, been discontinued. The estimated aquifer recharge from irrigation water in 1987 was about 6.6 million of gallons per day, which occurred primarily in the remaining fields where furrow irrigation was still practiced. Although aquifer recharge had been reduced as a result of the conversion from furrow to drip irrigation, water levels in the aquifer were higher in 1987 than in 1968 because of the large reduction in ground-water withdrawals and subsequent recovery of ground-water levels.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Effects of changing irrigation practices on the ground-water hydrology of the Santa Isabel-Juana Díaz area, south central Puerto Rico
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 91-4183
DOI 10.3133/wri914183
Year Published 1994
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description iv, 22 p.
Country United States
State Puerto Rico
Other Geospatial Santa Isabel - Juana Diaz area
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