There are many reasons for increasi

There are many reasons for increasing irrigation efficiency, but changes must be evaluated from the point of view of total water management. Creighton, et al. (2), in reporting a study of water use in the UpperSnake River said, "Improving the efficiency of irrigation in the UpperBasin solely to reduce diversions and increase instream flows depletesthe outflow from the aquifer almost as much as it increases river flow.This action would, however, improve instream flows for fish habitat,recreation, and other uses; it would also reduce erosion and waterlogging of irrigated lands as well as agriculture-related pollution of the river in the reach between the diversion and Thousand Springs, where return flows reenter the river." Increasing irrigation efficiency in this case had some water management benefits, but did not increase the water supply or provide any salinity control benefits.