Texas Irrigation Canals

There are many irrigation canals in Texas. The majority of large canal networks are in the Rio Grande Valley and the Gulf Coast, though smaller systems are located throughout the state. Canals provide water to dry climates to irrigate crops.

Rio Grande Valley Canals

El Paso Area Canals (Upper Rio Grande Valley)

One large canal system in Texas is located along the Rio Grande near El Paso. The canal system begins at The American Diversion Dam on the Texas-New Mexico-Mexico Border, which moves water into the American Canal on the US side of the Rio Grande. This canal runs along the Rio Grande through the city of El Paso. Downstream from El Paso, the canal begins to divide into smaller canals (including the Franklin Canal) used to irrigate a great amount of the Upper Rio Grande Valley (El Paso and Hudspeth county water districts). The network is managed by the US Bureau of Reclamation. A The major canals in this network are the Riverside Canal (El Paso), American Canal, and the Franklin Canal. A similar canal system exists on the Mexican side of the river, beginning in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.

Eagle Pass Canals

A canal system had been planned in Eagle Pass since 1885, when rancher Patrick W. Thompson drew up plans for an irrigation canal network. Construction on the project commenced in 1889. Progress was stopped due to a lack of funding after only three miles of canal were built. Construction on the project did not begin again until 1926, when Capt. W. A. Fitch pushed for construction. The canal began operation in 1932, and in the early 1970s, the main canal ran convert|108|mi|km|0. Onions and figs were among the first crops grown here.

Lower Rio Grande Valley Canals

A large canal system is located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, at the southernmost tip of Texas. The area is covered by 25 water districts, stretching three counties. The tropical climate of this area provides ideal conditions for growing citrus fruits, watermelons, and many other fruits and vegetables. It is the state's primary growing area for many crops, including citrus.

Texas Colorado River Canals

Another large system of canals in Texas is located on the Colorado River (not connected to the other Colorado River) in the Gulf Coast region. The canal network of convert|1100|mi|km|-2 is managed by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and provides water to farm a region with inadequate and unreliable rainfall. Texas produces 7% of the nation's rice, and the majority of this rice is grown along the Colorado River. Nine pupming stations provide water to the canals. The network covers up to convert|91500|acre|km2|0 in Colorado, Matagorda, and Wharton Counties.

Phantom Lake Canal

The Phantom Lake Canal is a canal in West Texas. The canal is used for irragating vineyards, orchards, and other crops. The excess water in the canal feeds Lake Balmorhea. (Also See Balmorhea Canals)

Balmorhea Canals

The Balmorhea Canal System acquires water from San Solomon Springs and transports it to nearby farms for irrigation. The water leaves the San Solomon Springs swimming pool in Balmorhea State Park in one large canal. The canal begins to divide after it leaves the park.

East Texas canals

The canals in East Texas are used to deliver water mainly to rice farms throughout the area. There are many separate canals, most of them located to the East of Houston and the West of Beaumont. The canals are often mistaken for drainage ditches, which are very common in the area. The canals can usually be identified by several characteristics:

*The Water level is above or close to ground level, and may have berms
*Usually Straight with occasional turns as opposed to naturally flowing streams
*May have locks or valves to control water

Although the canals are mostly located in remote areas, they can be seen from I-10 in certain places, both following and crossing the highway.

External links

*LCRA Irrigation Page - [http://www.lcra.org/water/irrigation.html]
*Maverick County Canal (Handbook of Texas Online) - [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/MM/rum3_print.html]
*Lovitt's Rio Grande Valley Photo Gallery - [http://lovitt.net/photos/gallery/27]

*Texas Irrigation District Program Webpage [http://idea.tamu.edu/districts.php]

*Rio Grande WebCam - Live view of the river near Mission, Texas [http://www.chimneyparkresort.com/webcam.html]