Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-04-21
WATER BODIES
.BUCKINC GRANT
T0EACLEPASS
IA Irrigation Districts
OF Valley In Argu-
ment Before Federal
!. Commission
Especial TO The Herald.)

Granting of a permit to the Nav
erick county water improvement dis
trict Of Eagle Pass to utilize the
waters OF the Rio Grande for power
purposes would seriously handicap
the efofrt Of the international wa
ter COMMISSION in connection with
the proposed treaty with Mexico
covering distribution of the waters
of international streams, was the
contention made by the joint asso-
citation Of Cameron-H idalgo water
improvement districts in a brief filed
with the federal power commission
Wednesday.
The protestants represent the II
irrigation districts of the lower Rio
Grande Valley, comprising approx
lands situated in Cameron and Hi
dalgo counties, approximately $780,
900 acres Of which is under culti-
walton.
The brief was presented by Frank
Robertson of San Benito, secretary
Of the associated districts, and Clay
Everhard of Pharr, president Of the
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo irrigation
district.
Application by the Maverick coun-
ty district for a permit to divert
800 second feet from the Rio
Grande for power purposes was filed
with the federal power commission
several weeks ago. The district was
granted a permit by the state board
| IF rrotnr nnninnnrc ~ @synrf fhof
volume for power and irrigation
purposes was filed with the federal
power commission several weeks ago.
The district was granted a permit
by the state board of water engin-
GERS to divert that volume for power
and irrigation purposes. The federal
law requires that a permit also must
be secured from the federal COM
mission before the diversion for pow
er purposes can be made, the fed
eral board having n jurisdiction
over diversions for irrigation pur-
poses.
Contending that the waters Of the
lower Rio Grande produce much
greater values when used for irri-
cation than when used for genera
ton of power, the protestants set
out their claims as follows:
along the Rio Grande, in both
the United States and Mexico, there
are more high grade lands than can
be. irrigated by the most economical
use of all awter that can be made
available by fullest practicable con-
troll. Such Of these lands as are
properly cultivated under irrigation
produce crops of great value and
become delightful homesites, while
those without irrigation r prac-
tically non-productive. On the other
hand, within reasonable distance of
| these lands there are extensive de-
posts Of fuel-gaS, oil, coal and
lignite-that are capable of supply
ing all the power needs of that sec
ton for centuries.
I'm this situation the value OF
water for power generation is rep
resented by the difference in costs
of producing power from fuel and
from water, which, unqueStionably,
is small. At Eagle Pass it has been
endicated that for the generation
of power the value Of one second
flow of water for a period Of one
year is $50. Such flow when i'm
pounded and properly used for II
rigation along the lower Rio Grande
serves as much as 300 acres and
produces net values amounting TO
fully 100 times the value OF such
water for power development OF this
section while all the power needed
there may be generatd from fuel
at reasonable costs.
1.-THE applicants for the Eagle Pass
power permit contend that their use
for power development would not
be detrimental to irrigation inter-
ests because water used for power
is returned to the river without loss.
But we respectfully submit that de-
velopments now taking place in both
the United States and Mexico ur-
gently demand the construction OF
great storage works and control OF
the river flow as nearly in accord
with irrigation needs as is practical
BILE. The maintenance Of a constant
flow Of water through the Eagle
Pass power plant is inconsistent
with benefits unless there are ex-
No such works now exist. and it is
tensive impoundment works below.
not known + their construction Is
practicable.
1.-The international water commits
sion, United States and Mexico. is
now studying the Rio Grande with
a view to preparation of a plan for
the full development of its water
resources for the proper benefits OF
the people of both countries in If
rigation, power and other uses. To
permit a power plant at Eagle Pass
to acquire o right to use a constant
flow of water would seriously en-
barrass tbs commission in its effort
to arrive at an agreement with Mex
leo respecting all questions OF the
Rio Grande situation, which agree
ment is necessary to the prosperity
of our section"
The Maverick county application
has been before the federal power
commission several weeks. and 1t Is
expected that the decision Will be
ANNOUNCED at an early date.
FINES INCREASED