Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-24
OPPOSE
EAGLE PASS
APPLICATION
Robertson and Edward
To Represent Dis
tricts Before Fed
eral Commission

A protest against JIle dpplASu1AStA
Of the Maverick county irrigation
district at Eagle Pass for a permit
from the federal power commission
to divert 1900 second feet from tne
Rio Grande for power purposes VIII
be voiced by the Associated lrrl-
cation Districts Of Cameron and
Hidalgo county at the hearing be-
fore the power commission III
Washington April II.
Decision to register a protest was
reached at a meeting Of the con-
servation committee OF the asso-
ciated district Friday following a
conference with district attorneys.
Frank Robertson, manager Of the
San Benito district, and Clay Ever
hard. president Of the Pharr-San
Juan-Alamo districts, will repre-
sent the Valley irrigation interests
before the power commission.
The objective of the Valley dis
trictS will be to seek withholding
Of the permit pending negotiation
Of a treaty with Mexico and loca-
ton of impounding dam sites, the
Valley irrigation interests holding
the view that the grant to permit
at this time when negotiations
with Mexico are pending and the
terms of the proposed treaty still
a matter Of uncertainty would be
decidedly impolitic.
Secured State Permit
The Maverick district last year
oa,,.o ,1orpoif FROM tho state
water board for $500 second feet
for power purposes and 600 second
feet for irrigation. Later this per-
nit was amended by the state
board. limiting the district to 1,5OO
second feet for both purposes. The
amended permit vas filed with the
| county clerk Of Maverick county.
but whether it will suspend the
original permit is ar undecided le-
gal question, attorneys state.
In discussing the proposed pow
err permit members Of the Valley
conservation committee pointed out
that if granted by the federal COM
mission it would assure the district
an uninterrupted flow Of 1900 sec
ond feet for power purposes, or
| approximately the normal flow OF
the Rio Grande at that point. This
would prove a decided handicap in
| the construction of any impound-
ing works above that point. vir-
tually committing the federal gov
| eminent to a policy which would
not include impounding dams on
the upper reaches Of the Rio
Grande.
There will be practically no
waste Of water by utilization of this
volume for power purposes, engi-
| neerS stated, the whole question
Ringing upon the policy Of making
an ~alolcation before arrangements
with Mexico are definitely settled
and impounding dam sites located.
In the event the federal power
board acts ~favorably upon the
application, any conservation pro-
gram worked out by the govern
ment engineers would be limited to
that section of the Rio Grande
below the outlet Of the Maverick
county power canal. Surveys Of
the stream have indicated that the
most efficient system for impound-
ing the surplus water would be q
series Of dams. and in the event
dams are constructed above Eagle
Pass. which is very probable, it
would be impossible to provide the
required volume Of water in con-
tinuous flow without reducing the
efficiency Of the entire c~onserva-
ton system.
Might Prove Embarrassing
Another feature discussed by the
committee was the fact that to
grant the application at this time
might prove embarrassing in con-
nection with the negotiations with
Mexico on distribution Of the wa
tiers of the Rio Grande. Diversion
Of practically the normal flow for
any purpose at any point also
would be contrary to the letter and
spirit of the treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo. it WaS stated, and might
be construed by the Mexican gov
eminent as indicating that the
American government did not
recognize Mexican rights to any
part of the waters of the stream.
The plan of the Maverick county
district is to divert the waters Of
the Rio Grande at a point about
80 miles abov, Eagle Pass and
carry them in a canal to a point
near that city where such water as
is not used for irrigation will be
returned to the stream, a fall Of
approximately 10 feet being OBJ
tanned for ~hydroelectric power. IN
der the terms c- the amended per-
nit issued by the state board OF
water engineers 600 second feet car
be used for irrigation, which dur
ing periods of heavy irrigation
would leace approximately 900 sec
end feet for power purposes. The
application now before the federal
power commission would indicate
tina the district proposes to operate
under the terms of the original
permit which granted 1900 second
feet for power and 600 second feet
for irrigation. Diversion of 1900
second feet would take practically
the normal flow at that point, en-
gineers state.
rIODSl ISOll dIIu 1DtILldIu, WHO Will
represent the Valley interests be-
fore the federal power commits
sion, will leave for Washington
early in April and will be prepared
to present to the commission a
complete analysis on the water
situation in the Rio Grande coun-
try and the status OF the negotia-
Itions under way with. Mexico.