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<br />Thus, a SUIlIl1lation of the water supply problem can be made in one sentence: Too
<br />much demand and not enough water is in sight in the Rio Grande basin, either at the
<br />moment or in the normal course of time 'and events.
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<br />This is not a pleasant picture. It warrants the most serious consideration if
<br />you aretoC9ntinue Valley developnentwith, the honest courage and reality of your
<br />forefathers. But let us look, for a moment, at the more optimistic side of the
<br />picture. What can be done about water supply?
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<br />First 'and foremost, in our opinion, it will be necessary for you to vork with
<br />the International Boundary and Water Commission to provide, as quickly as possible,
<br />additional upstream reseryoir capacity to augment the water supply now furnished by
<br />Falcon Reservoir.
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<br />Second, it would be to your advantage to divert Falcon releases from the river
<br />into a lined canal system as far upstream as possible. This will effect some saving
<br />in conveYance loss. Our earlier estimates of the irrigation potential, with Rio
<br />Grande water, were based upon such measureS. River channel losses may not appear
<br />great at the moment. They will become increasingly <lerious, as more and more vege-
<br />tation encroaches upon the banks and channel of the Rio Grande as its normal pattern
<br />is altered. Floods can be devastating, but also they sweep the river channel clean;
<br />encroachment has been the history of all river channels wherever the regimen is
<br />changed by ~ntrolledflows.
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<br />Thil'd, if the full irrigation potential of this area is to be realized, :i think
<br />you Should give thoughtfUl consideration to importation of water from water surplus
<br />areas of Texas. We havealreadylllade one ,suggestion along these lines. It is ,con-
<br />tainedin Senate Document No. 57, S3rd ,Congress, F;t,rst Session, under the title, "
<br />'Water SupplY and the Texas EeonOl!lY.f1' The plan we have suggested, "hile of magni-
<br />tUde, also prOvides earnings o'f, greater magnitude. Although not developed in detail,
<br />the plan illustrates the very real possibility of diverting-wes,tward and southward
<br />excess flows of the various coastal rivers now wasting into the Gulf to meet increas-
<br />ing Gulf Coast domestic and industrial water demands. It would also provide several
<br />million acre-feet of 'water for 'expansion of irrigation. Under the plan ,it is,
<br />estimated that sufficient water could be diverted into thesQUth Texas area to irri-
<br />gate 850',000 acree of new land.", Obviously,' water in' such, quantity would meet in full
<br />any water requirements you can envision in this Valley. '
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<br />,These"as .laee them, are, possiblei.1Qmediateandlong-time answers to your
<br />water-supply pro.blem. Decislonsrelating to them, of course" are up to you"
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<br />Second only to the problem of water supply, the chaotic 'tangle of water rights
<br />is the other major problem facing this area. Why'? Because there are too many
<br />rights of d:ivergentnature,trying ,to place a presently limited water supply on too
<br />much land. The problem is increasing in,seriousness.
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<br />This isa subject a Federal reclamation engineer mey discuss but he has no
<br />power of decision nor does he wish any. The Valley, we know, will not operate with
<br />success until compatibility, regardless of how or by whom provided, is established Be
<br />between'the present dual riparian and appropriative approach. ' It is up to you to
<br />determine who among you will get what water, where they will get it, how much they
<br />will get, and when they will get it. Your decisions are a key to future success in
<br />the Valley.
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