The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-07
UNDERGROUND WATER SURVEY
United States Geological Survey Report
Tells of the Possibilities for Irriga-
ton in Estancia Valley.

One of the most interesting remnants
Of prehistoric lake in the United
States, according to the United States
geological survey is that now known
as Estaneia valley, which lies south OF
Santa Fe and east of Albuquerque, New
Mexico. At its period OF greatest eX-
tension, the lake that occupied the CEN
trail portion of the valley was about
80 miles long and % miles wide and
had an area of about $50 square miles.
From examination of the deposits in
this section biologists are OF the opln-
ion that this lake existed at the same
time as Lake Bonneville, in Utah, and
other ancient lakes of the arid West,
during the cold, humid glacial period.
III this lake were now in existence, the
villages of Estancia and Willard would
be 100 feet under water and other towns
ia the valley would also be submerged,
The higher ground which surrounded the
lake has been explored everywhere, but
no outlet channel has been found, and
it is therefore concluded that the lake
had no outlet and its water was salt.
The theory of the existence of an
ancient lake in the valley is based on
the presence Of shore features and lake
sediments Sea cliffs. terraces, beaches,
beach ridges, spts, and bars are found
on all sides OF the lake fat, at alti-
tudes between 100 and 6,200 feet above
sea level.
Fluctuation In Lake Levels.
In the opinion of biologists these va
rious shores features were not formed
lat the same time, but record levels at
which the lake stood at different periods.
THE level of a lake with no outlet is
constantly Illustrating. being raised by
rainfall on the one hand and lowered
lby evaporation on the other As an
instance of this is cited Lake Sewer, in
Utah, which when it was explored in
1872, covered an area of about 1888 square
miles, but which in 1880 had so nearly
dried up that one could walk across
its bed, although recent examination
shows that it has refilled until it is
again lake of considerable size. Sim
liar fluctuations have taken place in
the level of Great Sale Lake.
Estancia valley is now, however, COW
cred by deposits which originally came
from the highlands thst border it and
which are the product Of thousands OF
years of weathering and denudation.
These sediments derived from the noun
tains were chiefly washed by storm wa
tiers into the vallies, where they lodged
to form the deposits of the alluvial
slopes, or were carried into the ancient
lake. All these deposits are geological
ly young. In general, the oldest are the
aluvial deposits, the next in age the
lake deposits, and the youngest, the
,V;nd Jonocitu ooJ colt hale
Estancia valley has long supported
sparse population, the inhabitants,
most of whom were Mexicans, depend
ing for a livelihood on their fioeks of
sheep. But within the last decade a
great change has taken place as a re-
suit of the building of two railways
across the valley. Hundreds of home
steaders have come to take possession
of the land and eight villages have
sprung up along the railways.
During recent years insufficient rain
fall has caused crop failures and has
created an urgent demand for an in
Ycstigation of the feasibility of irrigat-
ing with ground water. In response to
this demand, the valley was examined
in 1906 by Oscar +. Menzer, of the
United States geological survey, and
report on the subject has been issued
BY the survey as water supply paper
275.
Considerable Water Can Be Developed. |
In spite of the high cost of fuel, |
pumping can, under favorable conditions. !
be made profitable according to Mr. |
AIeinzer. Though the underground sup
PLY is not large enough to irrigate all |
the arabic land it is sufficient to add |
greatly to the agricultural product of /
The valley. The water will be put to |
its best use when employed to supple |
ment dry farming and stock raising. its |
value at critical times of drought be- |
ing out of all proportion to that of it's
ordinary crop producing power. Even |
where the depth to water is great every |
farmer should obtain a supply sufficient /
10 irrigate a few shade trees, a small |
orchard, small grass lawn, and gar |
den for vegetables, shrubs. and flow |
ers These things will contribute much |
TO the comfort of farm life and the gar
den will be of substantial value in sup
plying food for the household.
A copy of this report may be obtained |
without cost on application to the di-
rector of the geological survey, Wash
ington, D. c.