Soil Survey (Reconnaissance) of the Trans-Pecos area, Texas Page: 70 of 82
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56 BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, .1928
point above the trans-Pecos area, and such a plan is now being considered.
Reeves soils irrigated from wells gradually acquire a concentration
of salts injurious to crops, but thorough drainage maintained
in these soils would probably prevent such accumulation in
most places. At Barstow, just outside the area, a system of drainage
has been established and has resulted in preventing serious salt accumulation
in some soils of the Reeves series irrigated with water
from Pecos River.
According to analyses of Pecos River water, the total dissolved solids
at Angeles, near the north border of the area, ranged from
3,370 to 5,920 parts per million throughout a period extending
from March 23, 1922, to January 16, 1925. The quantities at Porterville
for the same period ranged from 2,044 to 6,000 parts per
million; at Barstow, from 1,854 to 6,440; at Grandfalls, from 2,610
to 16,940; and at Buenavista, from 2,640 to 14,350 (5). A large
proportion of the dissolved solids consisted of salts harmful to
plants.
The water of Elephant Butte Reservoir is used for irrigating theGila
soils in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties, and this water is low
in soluble salts as shown by analysis in 1919 at the reservoir, where
the average proportion was 41.20 parts per 100,000 (3). Water
taken from the canal at El Paso in 1920 showed an average salt
content of 61.84 parts per 100,000 during the irrigation period.
During the progress of the field work in the trans-Pecos area (in
1927) the content of soluble salts in the water of Rio Grande was
determined by the electrolytic bridge in the field. At the north edge
of El Paso, below which point several drainage ditches empty into
the river, the total salt content was 0.11 percent; at Fabens, 27 miles
below El Paso, it amounted to 0.17 percent; and at Ruidosa, about
150 miles below El Paso, it was 0.13 percent. Tests made of drainage
water coming from irrigated farms showed the following salt
content: 1 mile south of Socorro, 0.18 percent; 1 mile east of Fabens,
0.19 percent; and 5 miles east of Alamo Alto (near Polvo), 0.40 percent.
These analyses indicate that the salt content of irrigation water
from the canal at El Paso was about 0.06 percent, a very low amount;
but that water from the stream which has received the return irrigation
water is much higher, showing that the salts are being washed
from the soils where good drainage is provided.
Conchos River, which flows from Mexico, joining Rio Grande near
Presidio, contains a much lower content of salts than Rio Grande.
Below the junction of these streams the water of Rio Grande showed
by bridge tests the following soluble-salt content: 3 miles east of
Presidio, 0.04 percent; at Walker ranch, Brewster County, 0.04 percent;
and near Castolon, 0.01 percent.
The irrigation project at Fort Stockton receives water from Comanche
Springs. A bridge test shows a salt content of 0.15 percent.
Water from Phantom Lake Spring showed a total of 0.18 percent
and from the spring at Toyahvale a total of 0.14 percent of soluble
salts harmful to plants (8). The water from these springs is used
to irrigate lands of the irrigation project at Balmorhea. The absence
of harmful quantities of salts in the soils of the Fort Stockton and
Balmorhea districts indicates good drainage conditions and careful
application of irrigation water.
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Soil map, reconnaissance survey, trans-Pecos area, Texas (Map)
Map displays soil types along with counties, towns, ranches, creeks, rivers, springs, experiment stations, reservoirs, roads, and railroads. Includes legend and symbols.
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Carter, William T. (William Thomas); Beck, M. W. (Miles Walter); Smith, Howard Malcolm; Hawker, H. W. (Herman William); Templin, E. H. (Edward Henry) & Reitch, T. C. Soil Survey (Reconnaissance) of the Trans-Pecos area, Texas, book, 1934; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth19831/m1/70/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.