WSP03649 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

co C\l co C\l o o described court order. A Watermaster, employed by the Texas Water Rights COlllli1ission, is responsible for daily a11ocationsoi water to diverters holding rights to water from the Rio Grande .in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Saline groundwater and irrigation return flows degrade the quality of river flows below Falcon Reservoir. Recent completion of the Morrillo Drain project in Mexico has partially alleviated adverse impacts of irrigation return flows from Mexico on river flows; however, infer.ior water quality re- mains a critical problem in the Valley. The Lower Rio Grande Valley suffers s.evere constraints against reaching its full economic potential due to the quantity and quality of .the region's water supply. The principal problems which have plagued the Valley and which will become increasingly severe by 2000, are (1) inadequate ground and surface water supplies to meet current levels of irrigated agriculture during critical drought periods, (2) insufficient water supplies for expansion of industry and irrigated agriculture or for an expanding population, (3) impaired water quality, and (4) low per-capita income (Table 2). Tagle 2. Present and Projected Population, Employment and Per Capita In~ome in Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy and Carneron Counties 1975 2000 1985 Population 374,799 484,100. 163,657 $7,159 Employment 112,031 425,473 137,210 Per Capita Income $3,278 $4,597 By the year 2000, municipal and industrial water requirements in the four-county area will reach approximately 132,500 acre-feet annually (118 mgd), while consumptive use for. stearn-electric power plant cooling hexpected to increase to at least 11,800 acre-feet 28 '..',",