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Whether the wells are working depends largely on whether or not there are cows on the range. During very dry periods, the ranchers move the cows or sell them off, then turn off the water source. I think that is at least in part so the wells are not useful to illegals. When we hiked in '99 we saw a couple of wells that had been deliberately disabled on the Deming route. In 2006, on the Crazy Cook route, the wells nearest the border and in the Gila Forest had been turned off a couple of weeks previously, when the cows were shipped out. <BR>
Ginny<BR><BR>http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/<BR><BR><BR> <BR>
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Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:51:43 -0800<BR>From: bumblefist@gmail.com<BR>To: cdt-l@backcountry.net<BR>Subject: [Cdt-l] water wells in New Mexico<BR><BR>
<DIV>After reading several CDT journals, I've got the impression that in southern New Mexico, there is not really a shortage of wells along the CDT, just a shortage of functioning well pumps. Has anyone looked into the possibility and cost of installing some simple hand operated pumps on some of the wells that still have water but not a functioning pump? I suppose that asking permission from the person who dug the well in the first place would be needed but since hand pumps don't waste water, leaving one on when an automated pump is not in use shouldn't be seen as depleting a future resource for the rancher.</DIV>
<DIV>Even just a few strategically placed pumps could really help out CDT hikers.</DIV>
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<DIV>Just something I was curious about.</DIV>
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<DIV>Wayne Smith</DIV> </body>
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