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1,-; .. .t') lfj C".l t__', In addition to an irrigation water shortage, the Garcia community is suffering from a domestic water shortage. During my visit on July 18, 1974, the community was rationing household water. The entire water supply is obtained from a well constructed into the shallow costilla Creek alluvium. Unusually dry conditions during the year had reduced the saturated thickness in the alluvium and, therefore, the water available at the well. The residents were advised to contact Mr. Quincy Cornelius of the Four Corners Regional Commission for assistance. ( Although no evidence to support the allegations of fraud was found, the facts show that the best water rights originally used in the Garcia area have been transferred from the Garcia area. This investigation has been complicated by "wheeling and dealing" done by various individuals in the early promotion and development of the Sangre de Cristo Grant, and underhanded methods may well have been used. It is probable that original settlers on the grant were not able to adequately defend their interests against the shrewd and sophisticated developers. Two courses of action are available to the Garcia residents; either could alleviate both the irrigation and domestic water shortages. The first requires the construction of the costilla Project by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation and requires that the project supply domestic and supplemental irrigation water to Garcia. Considering the time and problems involved in authorizing and constructing a reclamation project. the second alternative appears to be more feasible and involves construction of a domestic water well and one or more irrigation water wells. The wells would tap the deep alluvium at depths that would range around 200-300 feet. The solution utilizing water wells is recommended. However, it would require the most financial participation by the Garcia residents. Development of the present. situation The Sangre de Cristo Grant consisted of over a million acres in present-day costilla county, Colorado, and Taos County, New Mexico, and included the Trinchera, Culebra, and costilla Creeks. It was granted on the petition of Luis Lee and Narcisco Beaubien by the Mexican government on December 30, 1843. On January 19, 1847, both Luis Lee and Narcisco Beaubien were killed in the Taos Massacre; subsequently, Carlos Beaubien became owner of the grant. The first successful colony was started in 1848 and located on costilla Creek -2-