The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-05-29
The Three Water
Problems of Central
Rio Grande Valley

Editor Evening Herald.
Dear Sir;
While discussion Is rife on the sub
icctH or the river situation. drainage.
and other questions dealing with
wuter-suppiy and the ~oVcr-suppiy Of
water In this valley. II Is perhaps not
out OF order TO air ones idea.
We have In this valley what can he
classified as three water problems.
more or less intar-reiated. They are
floods. w-aterlogglng and irrigation.
guarantee the prevention and discor-
tinuance OF The first two aud to guar
nntee the continuance OF the third.
The most certain guarantee against
the floods IL obviously completion Of
the dyke system by construction OF
levecH n the preservation uf he
system by use OF ietties and bank
protection work al necessary points to
keep the Rio Grande from shifting It's
channel and cutting out the dykes. To
complete the levee system would, as
you stated In a recent editorial, re-
quire a very large expenditure, such
as to necessitRte a bond issue by tho
county or state. or the organization
OF leyec districts as h. pTucticed In
some states. At present there afc no
statutes IN our state providing for tho
formation of such icvee districts.
They ere on much the same principle
as drainage aud irrigation districts.
and legislation makins them possible
Hhould be brought about.
on the matter OF drainage. much
has been said and IL being said. There
h NO argument against drainage Ia
this valley which can find logical or
consistent support. Drainage dts
fFNFf aaHaaH.uNuuFN.r H. H.rnaNNsA FuV la
the statute ana h. now being active
ly pushed by various leaders,
The irrigation problem Is closely
allied with drainage In that much Of
the watorloRging h due to improper
irfiguting u to improper CunHtruc-
tlOn and handling OF the main irriga-
tion bitches. Much of the. watcrlog-
giuE and much Of the waste % water
needed FOR beneficial irrigation could
bc avoided ~ consolidation Of the
mala bitches into "a large canal OF
high-linc ditch ON each side Of the
valley. Egch ditch-hcad hs now eN-
biting Be- a source of trouble aud ex-
pcnst. one intake adequately ana
safely constructed could supply water
for an the |irrigatinE un each side NJ
the RIO Graudc iu BcrnulillO county,
and could be properly built and
maintained Tor much less than the
combined cost Of the numerous In
takes now existing such consolida-
ton could be accomplished through
the organization Of irrigation districts
which, I understand, are provided for
under existing laws. Some legislation
giving boards OF county commission
crs more authority over The control
OF community bitches In regard 10 tho
placing and maintaining Of h~eadghtes
and s%pillwnys, would be very bene-
fetal,
IN short. to handle our various
water problems we should drain tho
valley, consolidate the main irrigation
bitches. and complete and protect the
dyke system and wherever practic-
able build roads ON the dykes.
An alternative course OF building
storage dams at points In the upper
Rio GrHnde valley whore good reser-
voirs ran ho made. on the same order
as tho Elephant Butte dam but small
CO.. would do away with most floods
and with the necessity Of extensive
dyking and would stabilize the sup
ply Of water FOR tho latter part Of the
irriRating season when We are fire.
quontly threatened with rhortage be-
cause Of tho low smge or entire
cessation ~ now IN the river.
Respectfully,
EDMUND ROSS.
County surveyor.
Stay IS, 1890.