Rubicon has commissioned its first Total Channel Control® irrigation canal automation system in the United States for Reclamation District No.108 (RD108) in California. The irrigation district delivers water from the Sacramento River to nearly 48,000 acres of land within northern Yolo County and southern Colusa County.

The large modernisation project included the automation of 4.2 miles (6.8 km) of canal as well as the automation of the sophisticated Emery Pound-stone pump station and fish screen facility.

Total Channel Control® uses advanced software and control engineering techniques along with modern communications technology to integrate large networks of FlumeGates™ providing unprecedented flow measurement accuracy and control throughout open irrigation canal systems.

Total Channel Control® significantly reduces operational losses and provides irrigators with near on-demand supply, with resulting on-farm efficiency gains.

Other benefits include a more efficient and skilled workforce and the capability of operators to rapidy respond through use of alarms sent directly to individual operator cell phones.

Additionally, annual cost savings are realized through reduced energy use (less pumping required) reduced operator travel costs, less fuel consumption, and a reduction in vehicle maintenance required.

Rubicon Systems America Inc. was pleased to have the opportunity to showcase the project on a recent Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Regional tour.