Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-23
WATER PERMIT
IS SOUGHT FOR
10000 ACRES
Big Development Indi-
Gated In Cameron
Coast Area; Hear
Petition Monday

approximately lZ,UU acres Will ne
added to the irrigated area in the
coastal regions OF Cameron county.
according 10 plans made public SAT-
day In connection with an
ment that a petition for diversion Of
surplus waters from the Rio Grande
would be heard by the state board
Of water engineers at Austin Mon
day.
The lands to be included in the
new project include part of the La
guna Vista tract and part Of the
Boyd Tract, the latter owned by the
Dixie Development company. The
total acreage in the two tracts is
$4,000, approximately 10000 Of which
will be placed under irrigation, ac-
cording TO present plans.
The petitioners propose 20 divert
waters from the rio Grande at a
point may be considered as unap-
pointed and put to no beneficial use.
The first lagoon north of the Boca
Chica highway and about two miles
east Of the east line Of I'll Jardin will
be utilized as a storage basin. BY
the erection Of a levee on the east
side the natural basin will have a
storage capacity Of $4,000 acre feet,
EHAAAEGAo Et0hEs AHAGG PUMPING
plants will be necessary, one az the
river, the second south of Esos
Junction on the Rio Grande railway,
and the third near the center on the
west side Of the Laguna Vista tract.
The main canal will run along the
west sides Of the two tracts, there
being q gradual slope east TO the
Laguna Madre. The major part OF
the irriEable lands lies In the west
part Of the two tracts.
The plan of organization has not
been definitely decided, but IL i
probable both tracts will be brought
into n district. No action along
this line will be taken until the per-
init for diversion Of irrigation water
has been secured.
New Storage Project
Another irrigation project in the
coastal area, on which work IS now
underway, includes approximately
1900 acres OF the AL Parker lands
lying between the Laguna Atascosa
and the Laguna Madre. Utlli-
zation Of the Laguna Atascosa
as q storage reservoir Tor the drain
age waters from approximately
$4,000 acres, part Of which IS under
irrigation, is proposed, and the Levee
across Cayo Atascosa has already
been constructed.
According to engineers estimates
the Atascosa has a storage capacity
OF $4,000 acre feet assuring ample
supply for the 1900 to 5000 acres
the project is designed 10 irrigate.
Drainage waters entering the Los
Fresnos resaca, the natural drain
for a large area in eastern and CEN
trail Cmeron county, are carried into
the Laguna Atascosa through n nat
ural chanel. Following completion
Of the dam across Cayo Atascosa the
water in the Laguna had risen a foot
from the rains the first Of last week,
and IL Is belived filled as a result
Of the Friday and Saturday rains. A
sluiceway has been constructed IN
the Cayo levee which will permit
flushing Of the Laguna in the event
the waters contain a heavy salt con-
tent. After one or two flushings the
Laguna will be transformed into
the largest fresh water lake IN the
Valley.
A large part Of the area to be in
cluded in the Parker project consists
Of the highly fertile lands lying
along the Cuates resaca extending 70
the shores OF the Laguna Madre.
Practically the entire area is cesig-
mated as high class land in the gov
eminent soil survey, and owing TO its
proximity to the Gulf and the fact
il Is considered practically immune
from damaging frosts, it is under
stood that the major part Of the
acreage will be developed as a citrus
fruit project.
Other activities in connection with
irrigation development IN northern
and eastern Cameron county, i'm
cluded the organization Saturday Of
two irrigation districts, Nos. II and
IS, designed to irrigate approximate
~ 1000 acres north OF the Los Fres-
nos tract. Following a hearing be-
fore the commissioners court Satur-
dav morning elections were ordered
in both districts to be held Saturday,
October 20.
District No. ~ includes approx
mately 1900 acres adjoining the Los
Tresnos tract on the north. the
land belonging 70 J. Lee Kempner.
District No. l3 includes approx
mately 5000 acres and extends from
the Kempner lands north to the Ar
TOyu OOloEauu. AtEAEAtAtu fA@A1 A1f~
not been definitely decided upon, but
II IA understood both districts will
secure irrigation water from the Los
Fresnos system.
District No. 10. the Rutherford
Harding lands lying east Of the Los
Fresnos tract. is actively engaged IN
developing the 5000 acres in the
district. The district was organized
several months ago and on October
/ will vote on n bond issue in the
amount or s6S0,000 70 finance a COM
nlete concrete irrigation system.
The district has ordered two 36-lnch
nnmps. which will be driven by 200
n motors and will install their
rnrpinr plant on the Los Fresnos
resaca into which water Will be car
ried by a canal from the Los Fres-
nos system. -
District No. II. comprising a large
acreage under development by the
Port Isabel Irrigation company, Is
also working on a canal system Al
5~;fional lands. inclding part OF the
an n0O acres recently acquired BY that
are expected to be IN
~iuded in the district and the de-
program.
II