Since 1992, a network of water wells across the 223,000 acre La Escalera Ranch has been the source for the Lyda family’s cattle operations. With the ranch’s permission, a family friend, who liked the taste of the water from one of the wells, began filling bottles and taking them home to his family. Curious about the quality of the water, tests revealed Escalera cattle were drinking Capitan Reef water with TDS levels of less than 300 - lower than many municipal standards. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology and drilling records dating back to the 1930s, hydrogeologists conducted a comprehensive water study across the ranch. The study revealed a vast quantity of newly-discovered Capitan Reef groundwater beneath approximately 70% of the ranch’s surface. To learn more about La Escalera Ranch, visit www.escalera.us. III