Challenge
The Gila River is an important local and community source of irrigation water, but extreme sedimentation produced potential blockage.
Solution
Redirect water through a local canal, where sediment trapped in the basin is removed through the process of dredging.
The Gila River in Arizona is a very important source of irrigation water for the entire Gila River area south of Phoenix, including the Gila River Indian Community, but it carries quite a bit of sediment, which can cause blockage and separation. The San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District (SCIDD) addressed the sediment problem by redirecting the river water through the 1,800-foot long, 100-foot-wide Florence-Casa Grande Canal, near Coolidge, Arizona, where the sediment was then trapped in a 15-foot-deep settling basin. At this point, SCIDD needed to remove the trapped sediment using a dredge, so the sediment-free water could then spill over the end of the basin and be channeled back into the river.
Recognizing the need for a specific type of dredge for the project, SCIDD purchased an electric-powered Barracuda Class dredge from DSC Dredge, LLC, to remove sediment from the bottom of the Florence-Casa Grande Canal settling basin. This hydraulic dredge was chosen not only because SCIDD felt it offered environmental benefits and the best value for the money, but also because DSC Dredge offers the knowledge base, training and after-sale support the district desired.
“The Barracuda Class electric dredge is a crucial piece of the San Carlos Irrigation Project, and is far better for the local environment than diesel power,” stated Charlie Johnson, Director of Sales at DSC Dredge. The irrigation project includes delivery canals that carry irrigation water from the Gila River and central Arizona to agricultural lands in the SCIDD and Gila River Indian Community. Removing the sediment from the settling basins is critical to the program’s success.
Standard features include a 12-inch suction tube, a user-friendly control panel with a PLC-based operating system, power up/down spud system with API-rated winch drums for proper cable storage and a rear-kicking spud for dredge positioning and advancement. Optional spud traveling carriages or two stern-kicker spuds are available upon request. In addition, the Barracuda Class dredge is highly transportable and offers the option of two front-swing winches. The dredge easily converts from a swinging ladder design, featuring side-to-side ladder movement, to a conventional dredge, without losing any of its portability. It is available in either diesel or electric power and offers discharge sizes ranging from 10 inches to 8 inches (250 mm to 450 mm).
