Publications

Small earth fill dams

Description

Earth fill dams are a good alternative to dugouts where larger volumes of water must be stored at a reasonable cost and suitable site conditions exist. Proper design and construction is essential... More ≫

Description

Earth fill dams are a good alternative to dugouts where larger volumes of water must be stored at a reasonable cost and suitable site conditions exist. Proper design and construction is essential for dams; otherwise they will fail from washouts or seepage losses. If water quantity is your main priority, then a dam could be the best option. If better water quality is the important factor, a dugout is probably a better option. Take the time to properly plan, construct, inspect and maintain your dam, and it will be a valuable water resource for your farm for many years to come.

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Farm water supply requirements

Description

All farms in Alberta require a safe and dependable supply of good water. To accomplish this goal requires some planning. Start by estimating the average daily water requirements and annual water... More ≫

Description

All farms in Alberta require a safe and dependable supply of good water. To accomplish this goal requires some planning. Start by estimating the average daily water requirements and annual water requirements.

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Aeration of dugouts or ponds with compressed air

Description

Dugout aeration improves water quality by maintaining dissolved oxygen levels. Of all the methods used for improving dugout water quality while it is in the dugout, aeration is the most effective... More ≫

Description

Dugout aeration improves water quality by maintaining dissolved oxygen levels. Of all the methods used for improving dugout water quality while it is in the dugout, aeration is the most effective and practical technique.

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Quality farm dugouts. Second edition

Description

Quality Farm Dugouts contains nine modules including a number of worksheets that complement the text and add a very practical element to the manual’s use. A pocket in the front cover stores... More ≫

Description

Quality Farm Dugouts contains nine modules including a number of worksheets that complement the text and add a very practical element to the manual’s use. A pocket in the front cover stores example worksheets. A pocket in the back cover stores blank worksheets and can be used to store other important documents for your dugout, such as completed estimates, record forms, and personal contacts. Although certain topics will be of more interest and value than others, we recommend that you start with Module 1 and work through the manual systematically

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Constructing dugouts for fish

Description

Dugouts provide water for a variety of purposes. They can be used as a source for domestic (household) water supplies, livestock watering, as well as raising fish for enjoyment or profit. If the... More ≫

Description

Dugouts provide water for a variety of purposes. They can be used as a source for domestic (household) water supplies, livestock watering, as well as raising fish for enjoyment or profit. If the dugout is constructed properly and in a suitable location, very little maintenance is required. If algae, vegetation or suspended solids become problems, then control can be either chemical (copper sulphate, diquat, aluminum sulphate, etc.), mechanical (uprooting weeds with chains) or biological (grass carp). Care must be taken in dugouts used for fish culture, as some of the chemical applications are directly toxic to the fish or result in decomposing plants that ultimately deplete the oxygen needed by the fish.

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Hydrated lime treatment improves dugout water quality

Description

Although the dugout liming treatment has proven to be successful, it is only one management tool available for improving water quality. Aeration, sedimentation controls and other methods of algae... More ≫

Description

Although the dugout liming treatment has proven to be successful, it is only one management tool available for improving water quality. Aeration, sedimentation controls and other methods of algae and weed control should also be used. Liming has worked successfully on most dugouts; however, a small percentage of dugouts have not shown improvement after treatment by a qualified liming company. Dugouts with a high level of organic color (yellow to brown) fit into this category. It is recommended that another coagulant such as aluminum sulphate be considered instead of the hydrated lime. It is much more effective on dugouts with a high level of dissolved color

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Float suspended water intake for dugouts

Description

Research shows that water in the top four or five feet of a dugout is of higher quality than water at the bottom and edges. The reason for this difference in quality is that the algae and plants... More ≫

Description

Research shows that water in the top four or five feet of a dugout is of higher quality than water at the bottom and edges. The reason for this difference in quality is that the algae and plants that grow in dugouts eventually die and decay at the bottom and edges, resulting in black, smelly water conditions. Research also shows that although the addition of aeration to a dugout will improve dugout water quality, a float suspended water intake allows users to pull the best quality of water from the dugout. Float suspended water intake systems have been successfully used in dugouts for the last 20 years. They have replaced the gravel type infiltration trenches that would fail from both sediment plugging and deteriorating water quality problems.

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