Cycles of Boom and Bust, Wells Full of Water or Sand

A 1926 photograph shows plentiful water pouring out of a shallow well in the town of McDonald.

People standing next to the opulent stream are well dressed and ready to make their fortunes in the arid southeast corner of New Mexico.

More than 70 years later, McDonald is nearly abandoned. It is one of many boom and bust towns in southeast New Mexico. Although boom and bust cycles often are associated with oil and gas, McDonald’s fate hinged on water.

The image of that rushing water flashes through Dan Field’s mind as he drives to a meeting of the Lea County Water Users Assn.

In the 70 years since the picture was taken, water in most of Lea County has gone from plentiful to scarce. Once-productive water wells now pump sand. The problem is so bad that Lea County ranchers, farmers and other area residents formed the association to fight for their way of life.

Field, a former Lea County commissioner, is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state that seeks to stop a plan to buy and retire water rights in the nearby Pecos River. The water would be given to Texas to satisfy the terms of a 1947 water compact.

The state says the purchase is necessary to protect taxpayers who would have to pay Texas an estimated $240 million in damages if New Mexico violates the compact again. Members of the association say that damage estimate is based on a worst-case scenario and is used as a scare tactic to sell the plan.

County residents depend on an aquifer that is so heavily used that the water level is dropping dramatically. It is the same aquifer that so readily gave up its bounty in the old photograph.

“From a shallow well, water rises to 35 feet from the surface,” Field said of the old photograph. “In that same area, I’m pumping down to 140 feet.”

Both of Field’s grandfathers homesteaded in Lea County. Field has survived hard, dry times by diversifying. He raises livestock and grows watermelon, chili peppers and corn. Field said he wants to pass the way of life on to his children .

He knows he won’t be able to do it without water.