Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-04-15
ESTANC|A VALLEY
SOIL SATURATED
WITH WATER
Result Of Investigation by Geo.
logical Survey Expert Shows
Great Chance For Irrigation
Pumping,
Morning Journal Bureau,
613 Munsey Building,
washington, =. @, April r. ]

IN investigation of the Estancia val
ley. in the central part of New Mex
leo. was made last summer j.. Q. =.
Meinzer. Of the United states Geo
logical Survey, for the purPose of as
certaining the possibility of utilizing
its ground water for irrigation. This
broad valley. which contains eXten-
sive tracts OF tillable land, IS Dor
dere1 By mountains, hills, and mesas
and lies at the center of an inclosed
drainage basin that covers about -
600 square miles. 1t includes no per-
manent streams. but the floods that
from time to time come down the
wide arroyos sink in part into the
ground and saturate it SO completely
in places near the center of the valley
that the water plane is there virtu-
ak at the surface and ground water
is constantly being lost b. eNapora-
ton. Some of this water can be re-
covered and used for irrigation by
pumping from wells sunk to a moder-
ate depth.
Water NAV Possibly be Used.
Ground water can be found nearly
everywhere in the valley. but a num-
her of conditions Indicate that il oc-
o,rs most abundantly on the west
side. which is supplied by run-off
from the largest mountain range. The
areas most favorably situated Tor ir-
rigation include the belt where the
long. gentle west slope merges into
the central flat, chiefly west of the
Sunta Fe railway. n the broad bot
toms of the principal arroyos. In
these areas ground water exists ia
considerable quantities, is 50 near the
surface that he pumping lift will not
be great. ana is generally of good
quality. It seems probable that II
the water is pumped in the most eco
nomical manner it can be profitably
used for irrigation, and, though the
underground supply will serve to irri-
gate only a very small part of the
valley, vet there is reason to believe
hat it is sufficient to add materially
to the agricultural production OF the
This O should be de-
veloped. but its development should
be carried ont very carefully and
with an understanding of the rigid
limitations which are involved. 1t is
believed that the irrigation of small
plats in connection with dry farms
and ranches win be feasible over a
part of the valley.
Character of the Wafer.
Assays made in the field show that
the water beneath the extensive west
slope is relatively very pure except
near the Mesa Jumancs, where it is
im%pregnated with %sulphates derived
from . thick he'd of gypsum that out
crops there: but the shallow ground
water in the low central area con-
large quantities OF chlorid,s and
suiphatcs. Between the large west (;
ern area of pure water and the much
area of saline water is a belt.
about three miles wide. in which the
water Is intermediate in quail
.ty. In the central area better water
IS found at greater depths. but the
samples assayed were an very much
more mineralizcd Than the pure water
III the west slope. The analyses Of
several samples of soil that were
collected in the central area are not
yet completed. but tho ASSAYS of the
Mater underlying this part of the val
cy Civ results that are uniavorable
% its use in irrigation and 81 is there
ore necessary To- advise settlers in the
ALLEY against cxpending money for
wells and pumping plants I'm the To-
'alitics where the first ground water
encountered Is rercepuhly saline.
HFs -.
The survey OF the valley reveals
n interesting geologic history. That
{ once contained a lake several hum
ired square miles in extent is shown