 In 1607 the Viceroy Don Luis de Velasco entrusted to him the difficult task of draining the valley surrounding Mexico City.The valley formed a closed basin, and when the rains were heavy the Lakes of Zumpango and San Cristóbal rose higher than that of Texcoco and overflowed into the basin, inundating the city and threatening it with destruction.Martínez' plan was to open a canal as outlet to the Lake of Zumpango to prevent its overflow.