DRAFT 3 587 - 3
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Conservation Practice Standard
Structure for Water Control
(No.)
CODE 587
NRCS, IllinoisNHCP
JuneSeptember 2004April 200810
DRAFT 3 587 - 3
Code 587
Definition
A structure in an irrigation, drainage, or other water management systems that conveys water, controls the direction or rate of flow, maintains a desired water surface elevation or measures water.
PurposeS
The practice may be applied as part of a conservation management component of a water management system to control the stage, discharge, distribution, delivery, or direction of water flow.support one or more of the following purposes:
To control the stage, discharge, distribution, delivery, or direction of flow of water in water conveyance systems or water use areas.
To control water quality, through sediment management, nutrient management, or temperature regulation.
To protect and/or enhance fish and wildlife and other natural resources.
To assist in the development of wetland wildlife habitat.
To assist with the restoration, enhancement, and creation of wetland hydrology.
Conditions where practice applies
This practice applies wherever a permanent structure is needed as an integral part of an irrigation, drainage, or other a water-control systems to serve one or more of the following functions:
§ To cConvey water from one elevation to a lower elevation within, to, or from a water conveyance system such as a ditch, channel, canal,, or pipeline, designed to operate under open channel conditions. Typical structures: drops, chutes, turnouts, surface water inlets, head gates, pump boxes, and stilling basins.
§ To cControl the elevation of water in drainage or irrigation ditches. Typical struc-structures: checks, flashboard risers, and check dams.
§ To cControl the division or measurement of irrigation water. Typical structures: division boxes and water measurement devices.
§ To kKeep trash, debris, or weed seeds from entering pipelines. Typical structure: debris screens.
§ To cControl the direction of channel flow resulting from tides and high water or back-flow from flooding. Typical structures: tide and water management gates.
§ To cControl the level of a water table level, or to remove surface or subsurface water from adjoining land, to flood land for frost protection, or to manage water levels for wildlife or recreation. Typical structures: water level control structures, flashboard risers, pipe drop inletsts, and box inlets.
To provide water control for recreation or similar purposes.
§ To cConvey water over, under, or along a ditch, canal,, road, railroad, or other barriers. Typical structures: bridges, culverts, flumes, inverted siphons, and long span pipes..
§ To mModify water flow to provide habitat for fish, wildlife, and other aquatic animals. Typical structures: deflectors, chutes, cold water release structures, to make pools and riffles, and flashboard risers.
§ To pProvide silt management in ditches or canals. Typical structure: sluice.
§ To provide silt management in ditches or ssTo sSupplement a resource management system on land where organic waste or commercial fertilizer is applied.
§ To cCreate, restore, or enhance wetland hydrology.
criteria
CRITERIA
General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes
All structures built under this practice standard shall meet the requirements of the technical guide practice standard for Ponds (code 378).
General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes
Planned work shall be in conformance with all ffederal, state, and local laws, rules s and regulations.
VThe planned work shall comply with General Manual 420 part 401, Cultural Resources.and regulations.
Structures shall be designed on an individual job basis, or applicable NRCS standard drawings shall be adapted, to meet site conditions and functional requirements. They shall complement an approved overall engineering plan for irrigation, drainage, wildlife, recreation, channel improvement, or similar purposes.
Each structure shall be designed for the drainage area it controls. The design shall include soils information, drainage area, etc.
The plan shall specify the location, grades, quantities, dimensions, materials, and hydraulic and structural requirements for the individual structure. Provisions must be made for necessary maintenance. Care must be used to protect the surrounding visual resources. If watercourse fisheries are important, special precautions or design features may be needed to facilitate continuation of fish migrations.
All water control structures that impound water shall be checked for flotation and seepage and shall be installed as “island-type” structures.
Structures shall not be installed that have an adverse effect on septic filter fields.
The water level upstream of water control structures shall not be raised on adjacent landowners without their permission.
If required by the plan, or soil, and climate icand site specific conditions permit, a protective cover of vegetationVegetation complying with NRCS Practice Standard Critical Area Planting Sstandard (code 342) shall be established on all disturbed earth surfaces. Where soil, climate or site specific conditions preclude establishing permanent vegetation, . If soil or climatic conditions preclude the use of vegetation and protection is needed, non-vegetative means, such asother protective means such as mulches or gravels,, may shall be used unless. In some places, temporary vegetation can be establishedmay be used until permanent vegetation can be established..
The structure shall be fenced, if necessary, to protect the vegetation. Vegetation shall be established in compliance with Critical Area Treatment Standard (342) of the FOTG..
When installed for wildlife on winter flooded cropland sites, the water control structures should be closed from at least November 1 in the northern hemisphere.
When moist soil plants are grown in the area, the water control structure shall be opened to draw down the site to moist soil level (ditches ¾ to full of water) after March 15 and no later than June 1, and maintained at moist soil levels at least through September 1 in the northern hemishpere.
Additional Criteria to Control Water Quality
When the primary purpose is for nutrient management at least 50% of the cropland or pastureland and a minimum of 10 acres must be receiving organic or commercial fertilizer (would seem to be descriminatory to small farmers.).
Structures that have an adverse effect on septic filter fields shall not be installed that have an adverse effect on septic filter fields.
The water level upstream of water control structures shall not be raised on adjacent landowners without their permission.
Utilities and Permits. The landowner shall be responsible for locating all buried utilities in the project area, including drainage tile and other structural measures.
The landowner shall obtain all necessary permissions from regulatory agencies, including the Illinois Department of Agriculture, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Office of Water Resources, or document that no permits are required.
Additional Criteria for Drainage Water Management
The drainage water management system shall be designed in accordance with a drainage water management plan per NRCS Practice Standard 554.
The rate of outflow and the level of the water table shall be controlled by structures or pumps. Structures or pumps shall be located where they are accessible and subject to convenient control. Designs of critical components shall be in accordance with pertinent NRCS Practice Standards.
Water level control structures shall be sized to provide adequate drainage flow and not to restrict drainage capacity. The water level control structure shall be designed so as to allow the water table to rise to satisfy the intended purpose.
For subsurface systems, connect at least 20 ft of solid drainage pipe with an anti-seep collar to the control structure. In lieu of an anti-seep collar, 20 additional feet of solid pipe canmay be installed.
Additional Criteria for Water Impoundment Structures
All water impoundment structures built under this practice standard shall meet the requirements of NRCS Practice Standard Pond (code 378).
cConsiderations
When planning, designing, and installing this practice, the following items should be considered:
It is encouraged to flood earlier than November 1 and to retain water on the site into April, if possible, in order to provide the maximum duration of wetland habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds.
In general, this practice does not apply if there is an existing water control structure installed upstream that permits control of the ditch water at a similar elevation (similar absolute elevation). However, on sloping terrain, where the natural slope makes it impractical to manage water level within 30 inches of the land surface along at least 50% of the ditch length, additional structures may be installed up and/or down stream to facilitate water level control within recommended ranges.
When possible, the area should not be drawn down until after April 1 in order to provide aquatic invertebrates, an important source of protein, for migrating waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds.
Design alternatives presented to the client should address economics, ecological concerns, and acceptable level of risk for design criteria as it relates to hazards to life or property.
Water Quantity
§ 1. Effects on the water budget, especially on volumes and rates of runoff, infiltration, evaporation, transpiration, deep percolation, and ground water recharge.
§ 2. Potential for a change in the rate of plant growth and transpiration because of changes in the volume of soil water.
§ 3. Effects on downstream flows or aquifers that would affect other water uses or users.
§
§ Effects on the field water table to ensure that it will provide a suitable rooting depth for the anticipated crop.E
§ ffects on the field
4. Effects on the volume of downstream flow that might cause environmental, social or economic effects.
§ 5. The effect on the water table of the field to ensure that it will provide a suitable rooting depth for the anticipated crop.
§ 6. Potential use for irrigation and drainage management to conserve water.
§ E7. The effect of constructionexcavation on aquatic life.
Water Quality
§ 1. Effects on stream system channel morphology and system stability as it relates to affecting erosion and the movement of sediment, solutes, and soluble and sediment-attached substances carried by runoff.
§
§ 2. Effects on the movement of dissolved substances below the root zone and to ground water.
§ 3. Effects of field water table on salt content in the root zone.
§ 4. Short term and construction-related effects of this practice on the quality of downstream water.
§ 5. Effects of water level control on the temperatures of downstream waters andfor their effects on aquatic and wildlife communities.
§ 6. Effects on wetlands or water-related wildlife habitats.
§ 7. Effects on the turbidity of downstream water resources.
§ Existence of cultural resources in the project area and any project impacts on such resources.
§ Conservation and stabilization of archeological, historic, structural, and traditional cultural properties when appropriate.
Design alternatives presented to the client should address economics, ecological concerns, and acceptable level of risk for design criteria as it relates to hazards to life or property.
Water control structures will comply with all federal, state and local laws, rules or regulations, such as those required by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Office of Water Resources, Division of Water Resource Management for construction in floodways of rivers, lakes and streams. The landowner/operator is responsible for securing required permits. This standard does not contain the text of the federal, state, or local laws.
Plans and specifications
Plans and specifications for installing structures for water control shall be in keeping with this standard and shall describe the requirements for applying the practice to achieve its intended purpose.
The plan shall specify the location, grades, quantities, dimensions, materials, and hydraulic and structural requirements for the individual structure. Provisions must be made for necessary maintenance. Care must be used to protect the surrounding visual resources. If watercourse fisheries are important, special precautions or design features may be needed to facilitate continuation of fish migrations.
operation and maintenance
An operation and management plan shall be provided to and reviewed with the land manager. The plan shall be site specific and include but not be limited to the following:
Structures will be checked and necessary maintenance, including removal of debris, shall be performed after major storms and but at least semi-annually. Water level management and timing shall be adequately described wherever applicable.
NRCS, IllinoisNHCP
JuneSeptember 2004April 200810
DRAFT 3 587 - 3
NRCS, IllinoisNHCP
JuneSeptember 2004April 200810