The first International Conference on Hydraulic Design in Water Resources Engineering held at Southampton University in 1984 brought together engineers interested in channels and channel control structures. It was well attended, very successful and generated papers relating to control and diversion structures, sediment control facilities for headworks and intakes, canals under quasi-steady flow conditions, computer simulation of irrigation and drainage canal systems under unsteady flow conditions, and sediment problems in rivers and the effects of engineering works on the regime of rivers. The success of the first meeting was a major factor in deciding to reconvene the Conference in April 1986, also at Southampton University. The second conference is concerned with the design, constructions and operation of land drainage systems and the wealth of papers received for presentation is an indication of how much this subject has developed in the last few decades. The Conference is intended to bring together as much information as possible in the field of Land Drainage together with forecasts of future developments in this important subject. The Proceedings will provide a unique reference and state-of-the-art presentation to all interested in Land Drainage. The Proceedings incorporate the text of a keynote lecture given by W. H. van der Molen, an eminent researcher. His participation added to the prestige of the Conference and the Editors would like to thank him most sincerely for his contribution.

Table of Contents:
Land Drainage: Art; Skill, Science, or Technology?.- Section 1. Design of Field Drainage Systems.- The Modelling of a Drainage System in the River Valley with Ground Water Under Pressure.- The Effect of Drainage Works within the Turu-Lung Somes-Barcau Zone.- Surface and Subsurface Drainage Projects Achieved in Stages.- New Drainage Formulas Considering Delayed Gravity Response and Evaporation from Shallow Water Table.- Unsteady State Condition Drainage of Sloping Land Theoretical and Experimental Results Concerning the Raising of Water Table Depletion Curve.- Methods for Estimating the Evaporation from Shallow Water Table in Drainage Design Formulas.- Tubewell-Spacing Formulas for Subsurface Drainage.- Section 2. Main Drainage and Flood Control.- Area Reduction Factors for Land Drainage Design in Flat Basins in Moderate Temperate Climates.- An Integrated Surface and Groundwater Flow Model for the Design and Operation of Drainage Systems.- Application of the Hydrological Model GRODRA for the Design of a Water Management System in the Land Consolidation Project Giethoorn-Wanneperveen.- CALDRA: A Software Package for Drainage Design.- The Controller of Pumping Aggregates in Draining Pumping Stations in Poland.- A Method of Flood Routing in Ungauge 1 Catchments with Particular Reference to Proposed Changes. A Case Study.- Design Study Main Drainage System Markerwaard.- Land Drainage and Flood Prevention in the Central Somerset Lowlands with Particular Reference to the South Drain Scheme Stage III.- Integrated Drainage Systems for an Alluvial Wet Land — A Case Study.- Development of Lahore at West Bank of Ravi.- The Effects of Artificial Subsurface Drainage on Flood Discharge.- Flood Protection and Drainage of the East and West Fens Hydrology.- Flood Protection andDrainage of the East and West Fens Unsteady Flow Modelling Studies.- Flood Protection and Drainage of the East and West Fens Engineering and Economics.- Effect of Subsurface Drain Discharge on Streamflow.- Development of the Lower Mono River Valley, West Africa: A Case Study.- Moisture Excess Removal from the Saucers in the North-Bucharest Area.- Section 3. Hydraulic Aspects of Drainage Design.- The Hydraulic Characteristics of Hinged Flap Gates.- Laboratory Experiments on the Flow Resistance of Aquatic Weeds.- Diffusion of the Sluice Way Jet.- Regime Approach to the Design of Drainage Channels.- Sediment Transport in Circular and Non-Circular Conduits.- On the Hydraulics of Corrugated PVC Drains with Different Clogging Degrees.- Open Drain Bank Stabilization Before and After Construction.- Unsteady Flow Computations in Open Channel Hydraulics.- Section 4. Influence of Drainage on Soils.- The Influence of Salts on Physical Properties of Soils.- Methods for Estimating the Drainable Porosity in Nonsteady Drainage Formulas.- Crop Production and Topsoil/Surfacewater Salinity in Farmers’ Irrigated Rice Fields, the Nile Delta.- Improvement of Drainage in Loamy Soil by Subsoiling.- Movement of Salt During the Cropping Cycle in Drained and Undrained Coastal Marshes of the U. K..- Impermeable Soils Require Stable Channels and Good Crack Formation for Effective Drainage.- The Effect of Soil Physical Changes Introduced by Mole Drainage and Cultivation on the Removal of Rainfall.- The Breakdown of Field Drainage Systems due to Deflocculation in the Coastal Marshes of England The Extent of the Problem and Possible Remedies.- Extension of Mole Drainage Practices.- Section 5. Influence of Drainage on Water Quality and the Environment.- Nitrate in Water Draining from Arable LandUnder Autumn Sown Crops and the Influence of Cultivation.- The Reduction of the Effects on Flora Caused by Drainage Water Quality by a Proposed Reservoir as an Element of a Feedbacksystem.- Simple Hydrated Lime Plants for Treatment of Ferrous Rich Drainage Water.- Disposal of Saline Drainage Water and Storm Discharge from Left Bank Outfall Drain, Pakistan.- Drainage Water Quality.- Effect of Saline Water on the Effluent from Gypsiferous Soils.- Plant Nutrient Losses in Drainage Water on Heavy Clay Soil.- Technical Economic Criteria and Efficient Drainage System Design When Using Different Filter Materials.- Stabilization or Prevention of Wet Landslips by Drainage.- Drainage Problems in Areas Subject to Subsidence due to Oil Production.- Section 6. Drainage Economics.- The Economical Evaluation in the Design of Main Drainage Systems.- An Economic Argument for a Sub-Optimal Engineering Design for the Drainage of Clay Soils.- Drainage Benefits to Land Workability.