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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Reclamation. In 1961, for 77,525 acres, 935,500 acre-feet of water
was diverted and 555,100 acre-feet returned to the river.
F. Colorado River Indian Reservation
The first attempt to practice irrigation liaS in 1870, but failure
of the helldgate structure resulted in fiooding of a large section of
the valley and the formation of several deep washes. Later efforts
to supply irrigation water incluied the drilling of wells and the
construction of water wheels. Subsequent efforts were made with
well pumping by use of windmills and even horsepower rigs. The first
successful irrigation supply installation was a steam-powered rig,
which in 1914 delivered water to about 587 acres of land. By 1920
irrigation had resulted in loss of much of the developed land,
owing to drainage problems. By 1936 the distribution system consisted
of about 60 miles of canals and the drainage system of about 15 miles
of open drains. It was possible to serve a total of 7,500 acres, of
which only about 5,000 acres were actually irrigated. The Bureau of
Reclamation was authorized to design and construct a nev dam and
--<tlvers!on-Btruct~.-Gonstruct1on-..as~~-t~ir&t-_t~
diverted in June 1942. At the present time there are about 30,000
acres irrigated, and adequate drainage for this area has been
provided.
G. Mexico
The early history of Mexican irrigation 1'rem the Colorado River
is closely related to initial irrigation development in the Imperial
Valley of California.
On April 26, 1896, the California Development Company was
incorporated under the lava of Nev Jersey for the irrigation

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