WSP11122 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

o tI) N --.J . . r- i ! i I 9 Original irrigation development of the Wellton-Mohawk area was brought about by use of Gila River flows. In- creasing development in the upper Gila River basin, how-. ever, left progressively less surface water for the area and settlers turned to the development of groundwater for irrigation. By 1946 water from some of the wells contained almost half the mineral content of sea water and reduced the lands supported by groundwater pumpage to about 6,000 acres." During the 20-year period between the mid- 1920's and the mid-1940's, that portion of the groundwater pumped for irrigation not consumptively used percolated back into the underground reservoir carrying the pre- existing mineralization in slightly more concentrated form. Repetitions, of this cycle over ,the 20-year period resulted in progressive localized increases in salinity of the ground-, water until it could no longer be used for agriculture in most of the area.l4 In 1952 the Bureau of Reclamation completed the diversion and distribution \vorksforthe Wellton-Mohawk project and began delivery of Colorado River waters.' By' 1961 irrigated acreage had expanded such that over 52,000 acres were under cultivation.'" ,When irrigation with waters of the Colorado began in 1952, groundwater levels were generally about 30 feet below land surface.'" , By, 1958 groundwater levels in theWellton-Mohawk project had risen to such an extent that waterlogged conditions threatened;17 the drainage program subsequently under- taken was designed to bring about a lowering of ground- water level. 13 Supra note 1, at 15. 14 Supra note 2, at 3. 15 Supr,a note 2, at 4. 10 Ibid. ';,1','11 ;,1; ";) . 11 Ibid. ,,/ "'i'" ,.,.:" ,:' _______"__,.~_~_...,., "'___~.,...c-~__.~,~~_....."..,.~~....,..,."",~~-T<."...~...,.,..__--.- ',""",,"-' ; '.' ;-,-,.,-",.