HISTORY:
Conservation of water is at the forefront of most discussions about water, especially in the Deschutes Basin. Several years ago, Swalley recognized that to effectively implement conservation measures good dependable flow data was needed. The most cost-effective option for acquiring the best information was to install broad-crested flumes with a radio telemetry system.

FLUMES:
Before Swalley could get the data, accurate and dependable measuring structures would need to be built. After careful research, the broad-crested flume was chosen. With only 300' of drop in the entire canal system, Swalley needed a flume that did not require much head. The broad-crested flume only requires 0.1 foot of fall to work. Swalley acquired a cost-sharing grant from the Bureau of Reclamation to install 10 broad-crested flumes. The Bureau also graciously donated four prefab NuWay adjustable flumes to augment the concrete flumes. The flumes were constructed and/or installed in the winter of 1997-1998.

RADIO TELEMETRY:
Because Swalley has a very small staff it was not possible to get regular and consistent flow data.

Swalley wanted hourly data from its new flumes with very little error. A cost-sharing grant from the Oregon Water Resources Department and the Bureau of Reclamation was procured to help offset the Swalley's costs. A radio telemetry system was installed, in the summer of 1998, to collect and send hourly flow data to the office computer system. The radio system allows Swalley to capitalize on its investment in new flumes and weirs. The telemetry system eliminates the need for ditchriders to constantly retrieve flow information and reduces the unavoidable variable of human error. At this time, Swalley has 11 remote terminal units (RTU), 1 repeater, and one base station located at the district's office. More flumes and RTU's will be installed as more money becomes available.

Goal:
Swalley believes that with this flow retrieval system it can better manage the current delivery system and then begin looking to the future. The future is moving in the direction of more efficiently utilizing the very precious resource for which it has been blessed. Besides more accurate management of flow, the flow data will allow Swalley to analyze high water-loss areas and then seek remedies for such losses.

Special Thanks:
Swalley would like to acknowledge the irreplaceable help of the Bureau of Reclamation and the Oregon Water Resources Department. Without the help of people from the Bureau like Leo Busch, Dave Nelson, Brian Hamilton, and Eric Glover this project would never have happened. Swalley would also like to thank Doug Parrow for his effort in getting the Water Measurement Improvement Grant program setup and doing great things. As always, great thanks to Bob Main, Kyle Gorman, and their entire staff at OWRD for their continued support of win-win projects such as this.