WSP01908

• File Number: 8278.300
• Description: Title I - Merxican Deliveries
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 2/1/1963
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Special Studies - Delivery of Water to Mexico
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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vater from the Gila Gravity Main Canal vas deli~~ed through the
Wellton-Mohavk Canal on April 21, 1952. In 1961, 383,300 acre-feet of

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vater vas delivered to 52,995 irrigated acres. Public Lav 272

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limits ultimate development to not more than 75,000 irrigable acres.

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The original repayment contract, dated March 4, 1952, contained

a provision for expenditure of $1,011,600 for drainage. By 1957,

rising ground-vater levels over the eastern half of the valley

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indicated a general drainage problem. The repayment contract vas

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amended September 1, 1959, to provide an additional 14 million dollars

for drainage construction. By July 1961, construction of the drainage

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vells and conveyance channel through the Gila Narrows vas complete,

and by January 1962 the Main Outlet Drain across the South Gila Valley

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was complete. Sixty-seven wells are presently available for pumping

for drainage relief. The contracts for drainage construction contain

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a provision that no expenditures shall be made by the Bureau of

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Reclamation for drainage purposes within the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation

and Drainage District without its specific approval.

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E~ !'a.J:o'1eroeITI'tgat.TonllrsnrC't
In 1877 the first diversions from the Colorado River to the

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Palo Verde Valley were made under the original filing of Thomas H.

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Blythe for 3,800 cfs of water to be used for agricultural and other

purposes throughout the Palo Verde Valley and Lower Mesa. Between

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1905 and 1908 an intake structure and gravity canal were constructed

to provide service to the Palo Verde Valley and carriage capacity

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for the Lover Mesa area. The Palo Verde Irrigation District was

formed in 1923 under the laws of California. A new diversion

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structure was completed December 17, 1957, by the Bureau of

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