Water Rights & Irrigation Systems Flashcards
7 cards from real ARA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Water Rights & Irrigation Systems flashcards as text
Which irrigation method typically achieves the highest water use efficiency for row crops and orchards?
Answer: Drip or trickle irrigation
Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone with minimal evaporation and runoff, achieving efficiencies of 85–95% compared to 50–70% for flood methods.
When appraising irrigated farmland, which factor most significantly influences the contributory value of an irrigation system to the overall property?
Answer: The crop yields and income achievable because of the system
The contributory value of an irrigation system is best measured by the additional income or yield it enables; systems that support high-value crops with reliable yields command the greatest contributory value.
A center pivot irrigation system irrigates land in what geometric pattern, and why does this matter for rural appraisal?
Answer: Circular — it leaves corner areas unirrigated, reducing effective acreage
Center pivots rotate around a fixed point and irrigate a circular area, leaving corner sections of square parcels unirrigated, which appraisers must account for when calculating productive acreage.
Which factor is most critical when evaluating the adequacy of an irrigation well for rural appraisal purposes?
Answer: The well's pumping capacity (gallons per minute) and water quality test results
Pumping capacity determines whether the well can meet crop water demand, and water quality (salinity, minerals) determines suitability for irrigation; both directly affect the property's productivity and value.
How does membership in an irrigation district or canal company typically affect rural property value?
Answer: It generally increases value by providing a reliable, legally protected water supply
Membership in an irrigation district provides access to a reliable, government-backed water supply, which supports crop production and increases the property's marketability and income potential.
What type of irrigation delivers water through pipes buried below the soil surface, directly minimizing evaporation losses?
Answer: Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI)
Subsurface drip irrigation buries emitter tubing below the soil surface, delivering water directly to the root zone and virtually eliminating surface evaporation and runoff losses.
When comparing two otherwise similar irrigated parcels, one served by gravity-flow canal water and one relying solely on a single irrigation well, which typically commands a higher value and why?
Answer: The canal-served parcel, because gravity flow reduces pumping energy costs and diversifies water supply
Canal water eliminates electric pumping costs and provides a diversified supply source; dependence on a single well creates risk from aquifer depletion, mechanical failure, and energy price volatility.