OCR Text |
Show Numerous current Federal programs are aimed at rehabilitation of the watershed lands and of irri- gation facilities, more efficient use of present water supplies, and development of new sources of supply. But population has increased in the Rio Grande Basin during the past decade and is still growing. Data are lacking on the full productive capacity of these lands with maximum feasible de- velopment of water resources. However, there is grave question as to whether the land base, if fully developed and efficiently used, would be adequate to supply the basic needs of even the present population. This basic situation is aggravated by the uneven distribution of the rural population in relation to land resources. Chiefly in northern New Mexico, the number of people dependent on the land for livelihood far exceeds what local land and water resources can support. Many rural people in this problem area are traditionally reluctant to leave their homes, and it is the custom for a father to divide his land equally among his children. Since this practice has gone on for several generations, we find numerous irrigated valleys which probably were once divided into farms of adequate size to support a family, now divided into tracts of three to ten acresv, which are wholly inadequate. In addi- tion, each farmer's livestock are pastured on the nearest range lands, and watershed lands near these irrigated valleys are as overcrowded as the crop lands. These watershed lands are some of the worst sediment sources in the Upper Rio Grande and Pecos River sub-basins. The damage caused by sediment from these lands to the larger down- stream water developments such as the Rio Grande Project and Carlsbad Project, added to the loss in carrying capacity of these range lands because of erosion, make it essential that this problem of overcrowding the land be alleviated as quickly as possible. "These rural people must supplement their meager income from the land with wage work, but there are few local opportunities for employ- ment. Even in the current period of prosperity their total income does not leave enough surplus to provide for improving the condition of their lands and facilities. This lack of local ability to finance the rehabilitation of this problem area, which must be done b>efore downstream water developments can be permanently protected against excessive sediment damages, indicates that government at all levels roust assume responsibility for it. All land and water should be developed to the fullest extent justified by anticipated returns, but even then these resources probably will be inade- quate to furnish all of the rural population with a reasonable income. The ultimate remedy must be found, not in agri- culture alone nor in water developments alone, but in a general reconstruction of the economy of these problem areas. While the potential productivity of these lands is not yet known, it appears that addi- tional opportunities must be provided before the pressure on the land can be relieved. Only when this pressure is relieved can the watershed lands, croplands, and water facilities be rehabilitated and developed to their highest use on a permanent basis. A high degree of industrialization may not be pos- sible or even desirable in this area. Natural re- sources, such as most large industries are based on, are not found in large quantities. Local markets are limited and transportation costs to distant mar- kets are said to be excessive. Existing and pros- pective supplies of electric power at rates attractive to industry appear to be limited. There is no large supply of skilled labor. Most important, no surplus water is now available for industry except by exploiting ground water supplies which would eventually reduce the water available for irrigation. Apparently, economic or other barriers have dis- couraged private enterprise from establishing in- dustries in this problem area to the extent needed. Yet some additional industrial employment seems essential to relieve the pressure on the land in the northern New Mexico portion of the basin. There- fore, government may have to provide incentives for industry, as is now done for farmers, to the ex- tent required for sound economic reconstruction. Smaller industries which can process local mineral, timber, and agricultural products into articles for consumption in the area or for sale to tourists seem best adapted to this situation. They should be dis- tributed throughout this problem area rather than concentrated in the larger cities. Priority should be given to those industries, other things being equal, which will consume the least water, and pol- lution of the streams should be prevented. The inevitable competition for water between irrigation and industrial use indicates that even- tually society must decide how much of the Rio Grande's scarce water supplies should be allocated to each use. Usually a given water supply can support more people if it is used in industry than in irrigation. However, the importance of irri- gation in producing food and fiber, supplementing range forage, and stabilizing the production of live- 350 |