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<br />releases around the delta area was proposed by the Bureau in 1950, Th(
<br />Pecos River Commission rejected the plan, and proposed one consisting
<br />of a conveyance and drainage channel with a cleared floodway.
<br />
<br />Acknowledgments
<br />
<br />The plan reported on herein is that specifically advanced
<br />by the Pecos River Commission. The hydrologic studies on which the
<br />details of the plan and the estimates of water salvage are based
<br />were accomplished through the joint efforts of the Bureau of
<br />Reclamation; the Pecos River Commission, the Engineering Advisors to
<br />that commission, and members of the New Mexico Interstate Stream
<br />Commission staff. Officials of the various irrigation districts
<br />throughout the basin have:' ft'.Inia!Ed data on the land and water use as
<br />well as the agricultural practices followed in their projects.
<br />
<br />Information available in basin reports by the National
<br />Resources Planning Board, Soil Conservation Service, Corps of Engineers
<br />and Federal Pot-ler Commission was used in compiling the report. Basic
<br />data wore obtain8d from Geological Survey, Weather Bureau, and Bureau
<br />of the Census publications.
<br />
<br />DESCRIPTION OF McMILLAN DEIXA AREA
<br />
<br />The McMillan Delta area is an almost flat plain, varying
<br />in width from one and one-half to three miles, which has been formed
<br />by sediment deposition in and above the reservoir since 1894, It
<br />presents the most serious prob:em from the standpoint of nonbeneq
<br />ficial use of water by salt cedar in the basin. The first observation
<br />of salt cedars in the area 0u,ur.r"ri i.n ::"914. By the following year,
<br />some 600 acres of ::.nfestation was reported. The area increased to
<br />9,800 acres in 1939, and 11;600 acres in 1946, In 1950, when the
<br />latest survey was made, the delta area contained about 13,500 acres,
<br />de'roted to the following water consuming uses:
<br />
<br />Salt cedars , , . , . , . . . , , . . 10,160 acres
<br />Openings (usually range grass), , , . BBo acres
<br />Channels , , . , . . , . . . . . , . 410 acres
<br />Tules and 11arsh gras s . , , . . . , . 1,180 acres
<br />Salt grass, . . . . . , , , . . . . . 590 acres
<br />j'Jater surface (trapped lakes) , , . . 250 acres
<br />Cocklebur , , , , , . , . . , , . . . 30 acres
<br />Experimental plot , . , , , . . , , . 20 acre s
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<br />TarAL 0 Co . . . .
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<br />. , .
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<br />, , , , 13,520 acres
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<br />. . ,
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<br />The vegetative cover in the delta area is shown on the
<br />map preceding page 1.
<br />
<br />h~ere the Rio penasco enters the McMillan Delta from the west
<br />a secondary delta has formed, creating a swamp immediately upstream and
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