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m ~ co C\l <.::> o TEXAS Problem Area I, ASA 1303. Irrigation water supply and quality problems 'in tile Pecos Valley and adjac:ent are~s. Irrigated lands in \:one Trans-Pecos region of Tllxasare centeJ;ed largely along the Pecos R~:ver ~n Reeves, Peco!l' Lpying, and Warif Counties. A saline supply of sl11'"fac~ water ft;'om' Red ,Bluff Reservoir onthl! Pecos River is used in small quantities but groundwater "is ,the pdMipallOource of irrlgationwater supp~y in the region. The supply of groundwater in the '!'rans-Pecos region is declining. Pumpage exceeds natural recharge to the aquifers. The groundwater pumped for irrigation is also becoming more saline as the result of natural saline water encroachment in the aquifer, and possibly as a result of the recycling of water applied for irrigation; ':l'he totl!\l area, irrigated was, 25(l,000 ~cres j,n 1958,284,000 acres in 1964, 174,OQO acres in 1969, and 177,000 acres in 1974. 1- ; A number of areas 'along the Pecos River inRee,l'esCbuntyat'E! no longer cultivated 'because of poor quality and inadequate amounts of wateJ; 1n,most years. The groundwater used in Rl!eves County is, high in soluble' salts, averaging,four tons per acre-foot~ Heavy water applications, salt- tolerllnt crops ,such as cotton, ana the moderate permeability Of the Boils permit;' the,uae, of this water for irrigation. Deterioration of ,water quality of the Pecos River" largely from natural brine emissions in New Mexico and reduced water deliveries by New ~exico, has virtually precluded its use for irrigation pur- pose/il Ilespite operation of tl\eMalaga Bend Division of the McMillan ' peltaproJect. The objectiVe of, thi,s project, operatedby''theBureau of Reclamation is to alleviate the salinity problems; which result frOm the artesian discharge of brinefrointhe Rustler Aquifer into the Pe~oaRiver by pumping theaqul.fer to reduce the artesian pres- sure. B;r:l.ne, pumped from the llqu'Lfel' is disposed of in art off..;channel natural depression where it, evaporates.' More feasible 'ways of reO: duc ing the natural brine emissions in all parts of the' area Are needed. ' , ' ' ' , ' Additional problems' in' the area hAve' resulted' from 'the increased cost of energy used to pump irrigation water., At the present ,time, the primary fuel used for pumping is natural gas. Within the last , three years natural gas prices have increased from $0.35 per thousand cubic feet (mcf) to $1.85 per mcf. This fivefold increase in price coupled with large pumping lifts and a requirement of up to 44 inches "5, '5., 21 <I.. ,-...... ,"