The late 1950's and early 1960's brought change that would forever impact the land and water resources in the Valley. Changes in water sources, and the addition of irrigated lands, would prove to be decisions that resulted in irreversible consequences.
Economic conditions were favorable and the more you could produce the more financial rewards you reaped. It was one of the driving factors of the changes.
Desert lands that were formerly marginal grazing were cleared of native vegetation. Large irrigation wells were drilled and additional underground water was appropriated. Many farmers applied to the Nevada State Engineers Office for permits to drill irrigation wells. Some of the applications were for primary allocations that served a full duty to each acre of land. The duty varied from three and a half acre feet per acre to four. The balance of the applicants made application for supplemental water allocation. Supplemental allocations allow users to draw water from underground sources to supplement surface water deliveries in amounts up to their duty. The West Walker River Basin was at the time, and remains an over allocated basin. This means there is more surface water allocated in the form of adjudicated water rights than the the annual yield.
The underground water basin in Smith Valley, Nevada, contained an artesian sub-basin. It was primarily located along the south side of the West Walker River. The depth of these wells was one- hundred to one-hundred-twenty-five feet deep. Casing diameters varied between three and six inches. The pressure was sufficient to lift water to the second story in many homes. Ranchers wells provided frost free livestock water in the pastures and corrals on their operations. There was another artesian sub-basin in the north end of the Valley and also flowing hot springs.
Permitting of the large irrigation wells includes a process for public comment and protests. My grandfather, a man with exceptional fore sight, protested the granting of the permits for the large irrigation wells. His effort was to protect the artesian well flows. He wanted to limit pumping and make sure recharge kept the aquifer near historic levels. Grandpa also believed the well permits should be issued to the Walker River Irrigation District and the water be made available to all irrigation district members in the basin. The alternative was the issuance to individual farmers. Neither of these requests were granted and the alternative ruled.
River cleaning and straightening was also a common practice in this same period of time. Large dozers were used in the river channel in the winter months during low water flows. The natural braided and meandering course of the river was altered and in some place diverted into new channels. These changes created a gun barrel effect that increased velocity and the consequences were large amounts of sediment were carried downstream. River bottoms lower themselves and the riparian vegetation changes to adapt to changes in soil moisture. The braided nature of the stream no longer existed and back channels that water fowl and some fish species preferred are now non existent.
Programs offered through the United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, and Soil Conservation Service contributed cost sharing funds to farmers and ranchers. Leveling of land and the filling of sloughs and other wetlands was commonplace. Drainage tile and huge open drain ditches were used to drain lands too wet to farm. Millions of dollars of federal funds were distributed to make this possible, with the landowner paying on a minor percentage. Many of these wetlands and sloughs served as a habitat for migrating waterfowl. I enjoyed the Red Winged and Yellow Headed Blackbirds and their songs of spring filled the air. They nested in the reeds and rushes that were the predominant vegetation. Leopard and large green French Frogs were prevalent in the ponds along the river and other lowlands. Today I have not found even one in the area. My friends and me talked our girlfriends into going frog hunting on many hot summer nights. Things are different now.
Areas of ponds, wetlands, and backwaters no longer exist. They served the purpose of storing water during high runoff and precipitation events. The water recharged the perched and deep aquifers, and some found the way back to the River throughout the season. These tracts of land were covered with native grasses, shrubs, and trees. They served a winter grazing and calving grounds for the cattle ranches. The vegetation provided protection from the wind and snow.
Irrigation methods began to change and more farmers moved from flood irrigation to various types of sprinklers. Runoff from flood irrigation was reduced, but evaporation losses increased. Some of the lands being irrigated were alkaline and the salts were being leached and carried back to the River as well as to the neighbors. Water quality has declined. The Natural Resource Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture, now has programs that cost share the building of wetlands, pipeline installation, conservation reserve areas, etc. Now we spend billions of dollars to unbuild what we paid billions of dollars to create. Are we still short sighted? I truly believe so. Our ancestors never cultivated more land than they could irrigate in the driest years, and filled the wild lands with water in the wetter years. It seems to me there was some logic to their methods.
