Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-29
DAMS SEEN AS
IRRIGATION AID
Proposed Storage on Main
Stream Would Insure
Water Supply

instead Of a fifth OF the flow OF
the Rio Grande being available as
now for irrigation purposes. most Of
the flow will be made available II
plans for five storage dams on the
upper reaches Of the river material
ize. This would make it possible 70
take care Of practically all ~irrigaole
land on both sides Of the river, II IS
believed.
Efforts Of the JOINT Association
Of the Cameron-Hidalgo county
water Improvement Districts are
being centered on securing sites for
the proposed dams. financing them
and putting the impoundment plan
in operation.
Construction of the dams also Is
recommended by the American sec
ton of the international Waters
Commission. United States and
Rfexico. IN a report made following
a number Of meetings and surveys
including joint sessions with the
Mexican section
Erection Thought Certain
II Is believed TO be only a matter
Of time before such dams are
erected and almost the entire flow
OF the Rio Grande made available
for irrigation, solving the water
problem of this section. Four tlfths
OF the flow OF the river now runs
into the Gulf of Mexico unused.
One Of the dam sites is two miles
west of Salineno which is about "a
miles west of Roma. The dam site
is at the Island of the Last Rock
This site has long been considered
favorably for a small storage pro-
iect to govern the immediate flow
OF the Rio Grande. since water
turned into the river there would
reach the Valley in a short time.
Another location is known as the
El Jardin site and is halfway be-
tween Laredo and Eagle Pass.
The three remaining sites are all
In one section, in the Big Bend
country, and are within a few miles
of each other. They are the Boquil-
las, Mariscal and Santa Helena
dam sites. all of which have been
surveyed in the past, although not
by Valley irrigation districts.
The Salineno dam would be about
70 feet high, and would impound
approximately 100000 acre feet OF
water. That is, about one half Of
what the Valley uses every year for
irrigation.
Dam Would be 10 Feet High
The dam at FL Jardin would be
approximately 10 feet high and
would impound l,000,O 900 acre feet Of
water. II would miss the Rio Sal
ado river water, coming IN from
Mexico. but the Salineno dam would
catch that river, missing the San
han, which in turn would come
tAear Rio Grande City.
ANY one OF the dam sites in the
Big Bend section would impound
1000 900 acre feet Of water. which
is about the annual flow Of the
Rio Grande at that point.
The annual total flow Of the
Rio Grande is approximately $780,
600 acre feet.
The program OF water conserva-
ton which is being worked out by
the Valley water districts calls for
the beneficial use Of practically all
this water.
II would irrigate all the irrigable
lands on both sides Of the Rio
Grande, IL has been stimated. so
that the water shortage question
will be q thing OF the past M a
system OF dams is builk
Would Release Water
The annual flow Of the Rio Gran
de nc Boquillas or Mariscal can
Won dam sites Is practically 2,000.-
900 acre feet, II Is estimated. IT
would take a dam there several
years 10 fill its basin since water
would have TO be released frequently
for irrigation.
The flow at El Jardin site would
be approximately $500, 900 acre feet
o year. including 2,oo0,0 900 at the
dam site above.
The flow at the Salineno dam
would be approximately 100000
acre feet a year. or all Of the flow
Of the Rio Grande except the waters
brought In by the San Juan. and a
few creeks between the Salineno
and the Lower Rio Grade Valley.
It has been estimated that the
power generated at the Salineno
dam would be sufficient to drive
all irrigation pumps in the Valley.
IL Is believed that the use and sale
or owe would eventually pay for
the cost OF building the dams.
Thus the Valley lands, not only
On the American side. but the Mex
ican side. would be assured Of suf-
ficient water for irrigation purposes
and the power generated would soon
nav fnr the nrniectS