Comanche Springs (Texas)

Comanche Springs was an aquifer of six artesian springs geographically located between the Edwards Plateau and the Trans-Pecos regions of West Texas.[1][2] The groundwater source originated from a Comanchean limestone fault combined within the bountiful Edwards Aquifer and the Glass Mountains.[3]

Comanche Springs
Name originAwache (Wide Water)
LocationPecos County, Texas
Coordinates30.881667°N 102.878889°W / 30.881667; -102.878889 (Comanche Springs)
Spring sourceEdwards Aquifer
Elevation2,940 feet (896.1 m)
TypeArtesian aquifer
Provides water forRio Grande

The natural spring has a physical geography routing north through Comanche Creek forming a confluence with Leon Creek and the Pecos River.[4] The alluvial river is a tributary to the Rio Grande.

History

Rio Grandé and Spanish Expeditions
Further information: Age of Discovery

Comanche Springs served as an oasis with inhabitants dating to the Pre-Columbian era by the Jumano Indians.[5] Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca scouted the Rio Grande region in 1536.[6] Fernando del Bosque explored the Rio Grandé area for Franciscans missionary districts in 1675 while Juan Domínguez de Mendoza lodged near the spring waters in the late 17th century.[7][8][9]

Forts and West Frontier
Further information: Army on the Frontier

On March 23, 1859, the Camp Stockton fortification was established in the Trans-Pecos region.[10] The garrison served as cantonment for the United States Cavalry warding off Plains Indians seeking to disrupt and raid the American pioneer, Butterfield Overland Mail, Concord stagecoach, covered wagon, Old San Antonio Road, Old Spanish Trail, San Antonio-El Paso Road, San Antonio–San Diego Mail Line, and wagon trains.[11][12][13][14][15]

Nomadic Culture of Plains Indians
Silhouette Sculpture on Trans-Pecos Plains
Further information: Winter of 1886–1887

The Apache, Comanche, and Kiowa visited the water basin frequently during bison hunting, Comanche-Mexico War skirmishes, and Mexican Indian Wars in Northern Mexico.[16] The Comanche Trail permitted the nomadic migration of Native Americans to the West Texas desert climate during the northern hemisphere winter solstice.[17] The long-distance trail encompassed regional spring waters of Texas Big Bend Country given the horseback riding distance from the Staked Plains to Big Spring, Horsehead Crossing, Tunas Springs, Glenn Springs, San Vicente, Las Moras Springs, and Rio Grandé located within Big Bend National Park.

Irrigation of Arid Lands

Beginning in 1875, Comanche Springs was incorporated into an agricultural irrigation district resulting in the hydrological regression of the natural springs in the Chihuahuan Desert domain.[18] The Belding territory, located 11 miles (18 km) southwest of Comanche Springs, was a thriving agricultural development requiring voluminous water reserves.[19] The 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) to 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) irrigation demand lead to the overdrafting of the natural springs aquifer diminishing the Trans-Pecos water table.[20]

U.S. Federal Laws for Arid Lands Irrigation

U.S. Congressional legislation for irrigation of the State of Texas arid lands.

Date of Enactment Public Law Number U.S. Statute Citation U.S. Legislative Bill U.S. Presidential Administration
June 12, 1906 P.L. 59-225 34 Stat. 259 H.R. 14184 Theodore Roosevelt
August 11, 1916 P.L. 64-196 39 Stat. 506a H.R. 12365 Woodrow Wilson
October 6, 1917 Public Resolution 65-14 40 Stat. 426 S.J.Res. 89 Woodrow Wilson
June 18, 1926 P.L. 69-404 44 Stat. 753 H.R. 3862 Calvin Coolidge
May 28, 1928 P.L. 70-556 45 Stat. 785 H.R. 11471 Calvin Coolidge
February 20, 1958 P.L. 85-333 72 Stat. 17 S.J.Res. 39 Dwight Eisenhower

Case Law of Texas Rio Grandé & Trans-Pecos
  • Text of United States v. Rio Grande Dam & Irrigation Co., 174 U.S. 690, (Supreme Court of United States 1899) is available from:  Justia 
  • Text of United States v. Rio Grand Dam & Irrigation Co., 184 U.S. 416, (Supreme Court of United States 1902) is available from:  Justia 
  • Text of Rio Grande Dam & Irrigation Co. v. United States, 215 U.S. 266, (Supreme Court of United States 1909) is available from:  Justia 
  • Forest Reserve Act of 1891

Historical Record

Comanche Springs received a Texas historic marker in 1968.[21]

Illustrations
Texas Historical Markers at Comanche Springs
  • Comanche Springs historical marker established by Texas Historical Commission
  • Fort Stockton historical marker established by Texas Historical Commission

See also
Balcones FaultHydrology
Climate of TexasNewlands Reclamation Act
CoahuiltecanRio Grande Project
Comanche Springs pupfishRiparian zone
ComancheriaSalt Cedar
Desert climateSpanish colonization of the Americas
Embudo Stream Gauging StationTexas–Indian wars
Geography of TexasUnited States Bureau of Reclamation
Groundwater rechargeWater cycle

References
  1. "Plateaus and Canyonlands". Texas Beyond History. University of Texas at Austin.
  2. "Trans Pecos Mountains & Basins". Texas Beyond History. University of Texas at Austin.
  3. "Glass Mountains". TSHA Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Comanche Springs
  5. "Who were the Jumano?". Texas Beyond History. University of Texas at Austin.
  6. Chipman, Donald E. "Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca". TSHA Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.
  7. Chipman, Donald E. "Fernando del Bosque". TSHA Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.
  8. Weddle, Robert S. "Juan Domínguez de Mendoza". TSHA Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.
  9. "The Gateway Missions". Texas Beyond History. University of Texas at Austin.
  10. "U.S. Army on the Texas Frontier". Texas Beyond History. University of Texas at Austin.
  11. Richardson, Rupert N. (June 12, 2010). "Butterfield Overland Mail". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  12. "Old San Antonio Road". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. June 15, 2010.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  13. Fossey, Will (June 15, 2010). "Old Spanish Trail". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  14. Austerman, Wayne R. (June 15, 2010). "San Antonio-El Paso Mail". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  15. Stever, Rex H. (June 15, 2010). "Stagecoach Lines". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  16. Wallace, Ernest; Hoebel, E. Adamson (1952). "The Horse and The Buffalo". The Comanches: Lords of the South Plains. The Civilization of the American Indian. 34. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 33–66. ISBN 978-0806102498. OCLC 1175397.
  17. Dial, Steve. "The Passing of the Indian Era". Texas Beyond History. University of Texas at Austin.
  18. Kaiser, Ronald (July 2005). "Who Owns the Water?" [The State of Springs]. Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine. Austin, Texas: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
  19. Justice, Glenn. "Belding, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.
  20. Bloodworth, Morris E.; Gillett, Paul T. "Irrigation". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.
  21. "Site of Comanche Springs — Pecos County - Marker Number: 4757". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. 1968.

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