Like you. Standard F - The student describes the role of institutions in furthering both continuity and change. What factors influenced this change? 1Project No. Standard F - The student uses knowledge of facts and concepts drawn from history, along with methods of historical inquiry, to inform decision-making about and action-taking on public issues. It is one in a series that brings the important stories of historic places into classrooms across the country. . The U.S. Geological Survey has created a Water Science for Schools website that answers every question you are likely to have about water, including information about how wet your state is. See if they can find out how much the land in each area costs. Nothing much happened to support that movement during President William McKinleys brief second term. Rio Grande dams and diversions are structures that store water along the Rio Grande or its tributaries, or that divert water for use in irrigation. Standard C - The student locates, accesses, analyzes, organizes, and applies information about selected public issues--recognizing and explaining multiple points of view. 2. For the first time, money from the U.S. Treasury helped cover construction costs. Note the batch plant used to make the concrete for the dam, visible near the end of the dam at the right side of the photo. Ask A Librarian service or call the reading room between 8:30 and The technical press did not credit the designers at the time of the dams completion due to negative sentiments related to World War I. The obstacles settlers would encounter in subduing the land, equipping farms, and meeting payments on water rights were not regarded as serious. One of the few things he remembered seeing clearly was a lot of desert with a big irrigated area that comes down a valley northwest of El Paso.1 This strip of green represented the fields of the Elephant Butte Irrigation District, part of the Bureau of Reclamations (Reclamation) Rio Grande Project (the Project). When the project construction began approximately 50 per cent of the area was in cultivation, the land receiving water through a large number of community-operated ditch systems. Quick Walking Tour of Desert Valley Auto Parts (DVAP) - YouTube Department of the Interior. The Reclamation Act was one of the first laws passed after Theodore Roosevelt became president. Activity 2: Progressivism and the Reclamation Act Then that organization would pay the cost for O&M. Trace these lines with a pencil. 4. Ask the students to review the irrigation websites in Supplemental Resources. By 1906, the Secretary of the Interior had approved 25 projects. You can also borrow a bear bin from them. Questions for Map 2 The website of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has a link to a chapter of a book that provides simple explanations of how an irrigation system works, with graphics. This page is not available in other languages. Did it achieve its stated purposes? What were its main provisions? At first, settlers simply diverted water from streams and used it to irrigate nearby land. Today Reclamation is the nations largest supplier of water and the second largest producer of electricity in the western United States. Grand Valley Diversion Dam, Half a mile north of intersection of I-70 & Colorado State Route 65, Cameo, Mesa County, CO, Historic American Engineering Record, creator, Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc., contractor, Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc., delineator, - It is a 14-foot (4.3 m) high, 546-foot (166 m) long concrete roller dam with six gates, which were the first and largest of their kind to be installed . A large number of land sales and transfers were effected, and although no attempt was made to interest outside settlers in the settlement of lands, because of their condition, quite a number of newcomers, who had previously been interested in project development, made purchases of tracts where protected by drains. Standard E - The student describes and explains the relationships and tensions between national sovereignty and global interests in such matters as territory, natural resources, trade, uses of technology, and welfare of people. How do you think these disputes could be settled? The turn is a sharp hairpin turn to your left. Water is furnished to 33,368 acres of land along the Colorado River in the vicinity of Grand Junction. It's pretty basic. Topographic maps use contour lines to represent the shape of the earth's surface. Settlers in those areas were already using up much of that water by 1900. Standard B - The student describes the purpose of the government and how its powers are acquired, used, and justified. Find the Rio Grande. 3) One illustration showing a section of the Mesilla Valley, and How much of the whole Rio Grande Project does this illustration represent? If not, how far does it have to travel before it gets to their community? often equals or exceeds the cost of canals and reservoirs. Money from the sale of federally owned public lands in these states and territories would pay to build the irrigation projects. Ask the other group to investigate farming in the area where they live. The machine shown here is a dragline, which is an excavator used to dig surfaces that lie below the level at which the machine sits. An abundance of water in the Elephant Butte Reservoir [in 1915], insuring a sufficient irrigation supply, has caused a number of property owners [in the Mesilla Valley] who heretofore have allowed their lands to lie idle to clear the land and put it in cultivation. . Who built and owns them (Federal, state, or local government; private companies; others)? 2) Three readings: a selection from President Theodore Roosevelts first State of the Union Message; a history of Reclamations early years, and a chronology of the Rio Grande Project; Water in the West Tourist cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (where visitors can stay) and Reclamations former administration building (converted to a bed and breakfast) are in the Dam Site Recreation Area. Duplication Services Web site. Grand Valley State University sports news and features, including conference, nickname, location and official social media handles. [In 1918, as in previous years,] the project lands were seriously affected by the rise of ground water, due to the overirrigation of cultivated lands and the lack of proper drainage works. How much do their parents pay for the water they use? Survey number: HAER CO-90, - Congress passed the Reclamation Act, which created the United States Reclamation Service, in 1902 to reclaim the lands of the arid West and turn them into productive family farms. Grand Valley Diversion Dam, Half a mile north of intersection of I-70 Standard 1BThe student demonstrates understanding of Progressivism at the national level. O/our shared interests. Letter from Assistant Secretary of the Interior transmitting a report on the Collbran Lower Missouri region, North Platte River Basin : Colorado - Nebraska - Wyoming, Lower Missouri region, Seminoe Dam modification, general location map, Wyoming. Who checks the facilities for safety and who is responsible for keeping them in good working condition? This section of the canal map shows the oldest part of the Rio Grande Project. Also shows dam locations and irrigated land. Start out on the Grand Pass Trail for 1.6 miles as it stays pretty level along the ridge. Reclamation eventually lined most of its canals with concrete and replaced wooden structures with concrete ones. Leasburg Dam is a diversion dam, 600 feet long and 9 feet high. Where do they end? Irrigation How much work would each of these methods involve in a farm field the size of the one shown in the photo? Race becomes Hurricane Ridge Road. 1906-8 Just before the lake youll come to another intersection where youll want to stay left. Interstate 25 generally follows the Rio Grande. What is the source for their community water (river, ground water wells, other sources)? a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate. Library of Congress Duplication Services. Standard H - The student examines, interprets, and analyzes physical and cultural patterns and their interactions, such as land uses, settlement patterns, cultural transmission of customs and ideas, and ecosystem changes. 2. Can you calculate how many cubic yards would fit into your classroom? the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. St. Germaine Parish Prescott Valley - The Roman Catholic Diocese of The Project occupies the fertile bottomlands along the Rio Grande in south-central New Mexico and west Texas. Constructed between 1913 and 1916, the dam is a concrete structure 14 feet in height, spanning a distance of 546 feet across the Colorado River. Farmers in southern New Mexico and Texas claimed that they should have the right to some of the rivers water. Register in person at ranger station (no fee), Hiker Headlines: Road and Trail Openings, Hurricane Ridge, New Trail Funding, 16 Lighthouse Hikes You Can Enjoy All Year. The successful operation of the drainage system, so far completed, in relieving seepage conditions was the principal cause of increased development. 1. Elephant Butte is a storage dam, 1,674 feet long and 301 feet high. Reading 3 is compiled from the 1904 through 1932 Annual Reports of the Reclamation Service/Bureau of Reclamation. Why do you think the diversion dams are downstream of the storage reservoirs? The water flowing down the Rio Grande has been used and sometimes reused by the time it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. . Many have also taken steps to assess whether their water systems could be at risk in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other emergencies. What kinds of buildings were located there (refer to Reading 3, if necessary)? 1-2. Notwithstanding the general depression, delinquencies in payment of the project operation and maintenance charges to the Government have been relatively small. The Hurricane Ridge area is open but access is limited - there is a daily limit of 345 cars in the area per day. [3], The dam was built between 1913 and 1916 as part of the Grand Valley Project of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and diverts water into the Government Highline Canal for the full irrigation of 33,368 acres (13,504ha) and supplemental irrigation to 8,600 acres (3,500ha) in western Colorado's Grand Valley. Why do you think Reclamation used this kind of system? Alfalfa is next to cotton in acreage. Notice that neither the canal nor the lateral appears to have a lining. Bookings | Mistress Kate West How long did it take? 2. The first dam to impound the Rio Grande was the Rio Grande . Standard C - The student describes the various forms institutions take and the interactions of people with institutions. People receiving water originally could own no more than 160 acres. The upper camp was between the dam and Elephant Butte (the mountain in the background). The water users and civic organizations have been active in securing settlers. [1] The smaller laterals carry the water to the individual fields that cover the valley floor. Sometimes the only way to get a sense of how big something really is is to compare it to something you know. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. 2. Standard A - The student elaborates mental maps of locales, regions, and the world that demonstrate understanding of relative location, direction, size, and shape. Why is the water level in the canal higher than the level in the lateral? Standard H - The student works independently and cooperatively to accomplish goals. All construction charges on this project have been promptly paid. Examine the out-take and the check. For purposes of comparison, temperatures on the Rio Grande Project range from zero to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, average rainfall is 9.5 inches, and the principal crops are still cotton, alfalfa, vegetables, pecans, and grain. After a careful examination by engineers of the service, the construction of a dam and about 6 miles of canal was recommended as being a commendable development that would ultimately become an integral part of the Rio Grande project and that would meantime be of great advantage to agriculture in the Mesilla Valley. The ditch is elevated above the level of the field it serves. Invitation for Bids (Project Specifications) Plan Set. Bid Opening Date: June 29, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. (Arizona time) Project Documents: Notice to Contractors. Some sources are: No entry after 7:30 pm. Bureau of Reclamation color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of How big is it (use the man standing between the tracks for comparison)? List of Rio Grande dams and diversions - Wikipedia The maps and images appear twice: in a small version with associated questions and alone in a larger version. Canals could be "earthen" (unlined), or lined with various materials such as rock, concrete, etc. In a typical cycle of excavation, the operator positions the dragline's bucket above the material to be excavated. [By 1919], the results of drainage work accomplished were of such satisfactory extent as to give encouragement to settlement, particularly in the Mesilla Valley. Video tour Searching for Stevie Nicks house, lead singer for the b. Is the item digitized? Theme V: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions. Building/structure dates: after. The fields are private property and not open for visitation. Standard F - The student identifies and explains the roles of formal and informal political actors in influencing and shaping public policy and decision-making. This trailhead is at the end of a dirt road that starts just short of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. You will pass the Visitor Center where you can stop if you need an overnight permit. On December 2, 1905, the construction of this unit, now known as the Leasburg District, was authorized by the Secretary of the Interior and $200,000 set aside from the reclamation fund to defray the necessary expenditures. These new projects would encompass entire river basins. trip reports for this trail. What changes were made in response to the Fact Finders investigation? Is it obtained locally? Some of these water-related facilities may be historic structures. The main structures of the Elephant Butte Dam were completed in June 1916, at an approximate cost of $5,000,000, but the first stored water was held during the winter of 1914-15 and supplied to water users for irrigation during the season of 1915. They were particularly unhappy about the 160-acre acreage restriction and the 10-year repayment schedule. Current U.S. citizens (or those planning to become citizens) who were either heads of families or individuals at least 21 years old could claim up to 160 acres of public land.1 If they built a house, lived on their claim, and farmed it for the next five years they could get final ownership. Other areas were still desertfertile, but inhospitable for lack of water. (National Archives and Records Administration; Photographer Unknown.). 1. the name you would like to be called. The only way to correct these drainage problems was to build expensive drainage systems. This auto parts junkyard specializes in 1960s & later vehicles and was featured in the 2011 Discovery Channel TV series "Desert Car Kings." Today it remains. Tempe Municipal Court - 140 East Fifth Street, Tempe AZ 85281. irrigation canals, - Grand Valley Diversion Dam, Half a mile north of intersection of I-70 & Colorado State Route 65, Cameo, Mesa County, CO. Cameo Colorado Mesa County, 1968. How big is a cubic yard? According to the Fourteenth Annual Report, published in 1915, Elephant Butte was the largest structure yet undertaken by the Reclamation Service. 7 Does it look small in the photograph? Another short loop can be added here at the end if you want some more miles. Can you think of problems that might arise from having so many projects underway at the same time? (Denver, CO: U.S. Department of the Interior, Policy and Administration, Bureau of Reclamation, 2011) (accessed 12/11/2011). It is a 14-foot (4.3m) high, 546-foot (166m) long concrete roller dam with six gates, which were the first and largest of their kind to be installed in the United States. The Grand Valley Diversion Dam is a diversion dam in the De Beque Canyon of the Colorado River, about 15 miles (24km) northeast of Grand Junction, Colorado in the United States. Phone - (480) 350-8271. www.azcourtpay.com. 144. Four gasoline-powered draglines were delivered in mid-1917. One method had laborers use hoes to cut openings in the embankment to allow the water to flow into the fields. Standard E - The student locates and describes varying land forms and geographic features, such as mountains, plateaus, islands, rain forests, deserts, and oceans, and explains their relationships within the ecosystem. Little attempt was made to interest outside settlers because of the condition of the lands. Time period: Early to mid-20th century. Just south of Gladys Lake is where Lillian Ridge Way connects with the Grand Pass Trail, if you opt for that option. For more information, including maps and directions, see the New Mexico State Parks website. The plan called for the construction of 13 long main drains in the Mesilla Valley. This map uses brown lines to represent elevation in feet. Located in Camp Dennison, the 379 acre site has been the focus of a reclamation project to restore wildlife and the Preserve's natural beauty. Were different populations served, and for different purposes, because of the change in mission? 4.Find the Rio Grande Project (the Project), the blue area labeled Elephant Butte Reservoir, and the brown area to the south on either side of the river. The Reclamation Act built on the foundation of the 1862 Homestead Act. Still in use, the dam was designed by German engineers who incorporated a set of roller gates to control the flow. All of the work up to November 1912 has been preliminary to actual construction of the dam itself. The need to control and maximize the use of available water has always been a critical issue for the people in arid areas, who rely on what little there is for human consumption, agriculture, and industry. A very small area of new land was placed in cultivation. App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead. At this first junction, you have the option of heading right on Lillian Ridge Way, a trail that continues along the ridge before dropping down into the valley. Why or why not? It is beginning to be realized that [irrigation] development requires a study of agricultural and economic problems, and the working out of settlement and development plans if the land is to be brought under cultivation without disastrous delays and waste of money and effort.3. Reclamation was quick to take advantage of these changes. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Several factors contributed to the demand for irrigation. Topographic surveys, which identify and map the contours of the land, were among the first steps Reclamation completed when planning irrigation systems. The "reclamation movement demonstrated its strength when pro-irrigation planks found their way into both party platforms in the presidential election of 1900. The following activities will help the students build on what they have learned. These were defined in the Reclamation Act, as well as subsequent law and policy. Can you think of any other ways to do this? You can improve or add to this guidebook entry! Grand Valley Diversion Dam | History Colorado "Making the Desert Bloom": The Rio Grande Project relates to the following Social Studies Standards: Standard D - The student explains why individuals and groups respond differently to their physical and social environments and/or changes to them on the basis of shared assumptions, values, and beliefs. Crop financing was more and more difficult to obtain and there was probably some further increase in mortgages where they could be negotiated. Some may have been built by a governmental entity, others by private companies. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/grand-valley, https://www.wta.org/site_images/hikes/grand-valley.jpg-2/@@download/image/f1de49072ed28a2765ae8aeccb85a144_photo1, Backcountry camping permit. Bureau of Reclamation - Fowler, Benjamin A. 1. In 1924, the main features of the irrigation and drainage systems planned for the Rio Grande project [were] completed. The repayment requirement and the 160-acre limit were eventually relaxed. What purpose do you think the embankments serve? Can you find the outlet where water is flowing out at the base of the dam? The following history consists of quotations taken from those reports: To be considered, you have to follow MY instructions. What purpose do you think lining would serve? The canals and irrigated fields of the Rio Grande Project in New Mexico are visible from a number of state highways and local roads accessible from the interstate. Another method permanently embedded short pieces of hose or pipe in the embankment to allow water to flow to each furrow. How long did it take to complete this part of the Project (refer to Reading 3, if necessary)? Why do you think Reclamation had to build camps like these? The lesson was written by Marilyn Harper, historian, and edited by Teaching with Historic Places and Reclamation staff. 1 INTRODUCTION The Grand Valley Water Users Association (GVWUA) and the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District (OMID) plan to complete upgrades to the Government Highline Canal Roller Dam Electrical The Boulder Canyon Project, approved in 1928 with Hoover Dam as its centerpiece, was the model for these multipurpose projects. The road is narrow with a steep drop off on one side, so take it slow and be courteous to oncoming traffic. The abounding prosperity of the Rio Grande project in recent years has been due largely to the production of cotton. How would you describe the location of the Leasburg Canal in relationship to that contour line? If only black-and-white ("b&w") sources are listed and you desire a copy showing Farmers had to find their own ways to get water from the ditch into their fields. Significance: Constructed between 1913 and 1916, the dam is the key structure of the Bureau of Reclamation's Grand Valley Project, which provides water to 42,000 acres of semi-arid land. What disadvantages? .it was the common belief that all that was needed to obtain irrigated farms and prosperous homes was to provide water by building canals and reservoirs. What costs might farmers living on an irrigation project have to pay that they wouldnt pay if they werent living on a project? Farmers in the Rio Grande valley in Mexico also claimed rights to the water of the river. Grand Valley Diversion Dam, Half a mile north of intersection of I-70 & Colorado State Route 65, Cameo, Mesa County, CO. This is the page that gives booking instructions. Congress responded to settler complaints by extending the repayment period and by relaxing the 160-acre limit for some new projects. In this lesson, students have learned about how the Bureau of Reclamation transformed the valley of the Rio Grande by creating Elephant Butte Dam and the Rio Grande irrigation project, and about some of the problems they encountered along the way. The Reclamation Act, passed in 1902, was one of the first pieces of legislation passed under the Progressive Era administration of President Theodore Roosevelt. The reservoir behind the dam is already filling with water, even though the dam is not yet complete. Originally, water users had to repay what the government estimated it had spent for construction within 10 years after a projects completion. "GPO 848-956." What water conservation techniques do they mention? Classic Car Heaven: Desert Valley Auto Parts in Phoenix - YouTube The Bureau of Reclamations Mid-Pacific Region has developed a website that contains educational materials that use an idealized farm to explain the three basic irrigation methods, how each one works, when it works best, and what the costs and benefits are. Continue straight, going through the park entrance where the fee booth is located, and wind up the the 17 miles to Hurricane Ridge.The road to Obstruction Point leaves Hurricane Ridge Road just before you arrive at the large parking lot for Hurricane Ridge. Construction techniques and technology changed rapidly during the years the Rio Grande Project was under construction. This website, maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, discusses irrigation in the Western United States today, including efforts at water conservation. Shows area of North Platte River Basin that covers southern Wyoming, south west Nebraska, and a small portion of Colorado. 1916-19 In addition, on many projects, poor natural drainage caused rising underground water levels. The U.S. Geological Survey map from which this detail was taken is part of the National Register nomination for the Elephant Butte Irrigation District. They would use the water to do more than just irrigate crops. This work includes the construction of a railroad about 10 miles long from the Santa Fe Railroad to the site of the dam, a bridge across the river, telephone lines, permanent office buildings, dwellings, a pump house and well, hospital, mercantile store, and warehouses, mess houses, the assembling of machinery and equipment, and the commencement of the construction of a concrete flume to carry the waters of the river past the site of the dam during excavation and construction of foundations. Look carefully at this photo. This lesson is based on National Register of Historic Places documentation for "Elephant Butte Irrigation District," "Elephant Butte Dam," "Elephant Butte Historic District," and on Reclamation's publications. This relationship and the disruption by WWI resulted in American engineers gaining experience in the design fabrication and erection of roller gates. Does that analysis make sense to you? [1], Grand Valley Diversion Dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 8, 1991. The Projects complex, interrelated irrigation system includes five diversion dams, 139 miles of main canals, 457 miles of smaller canals, and 465 miles of drains. They can be combined by aligning them on the Rio Grande and the Leasburg Canal. What standards exist for drinking water, and who checks to see if community water meets those standards? Irrigation had been practiced for a great many years in the Rio Grande Valley [but the necessity for drainage did not arise until the water stored in the Elephant Butte Reservoir became available and the quantity of water being applied to valley land increased]. Reference staff can This illustration is a topographic map, much like the ones that Reclamation created when they were planning the Rio Grande Project. What crops can be grown using irrigation that cant be grown without it? There has been a marked increase [during 1923-1926] in the rate of agricultural settlement and development of the valley lands comprising the Rio Grande project. 1) To describe President Theodore Roosevelts proposed plan for irrigating the arid West. Ask students to find how the population in those cities has changed in recent years. What were some of the factors that contributed to the length of time it took to complete the essential elements of the Project? Who got the most benefit from it (for example, farmers, workers, everybody)? A visitor center offers information and interpretive exhibits. Effective 04/10/2023. Settlers also might have to prove they had farming experience and enough money to establish their new farms. A small visitor center is open seasonally. Practically all of the project is in private ownership and is approximately 95 per cent in cultivation. If these trends continue, how are the cities needs for water and electricity likely to change?