The Water for Texans program during 2003 was funded by Soil and Water Conservation funds. This added support allowed continuation of previously installed and operational watershed demonstrations in 15 counties including 48 demonstration plots (Figure 1). Paired catchments were established this year in cooperation with County Extension Agents in Menard on Farm Bureau’s property in Menard County and on the Cerrito Prieto Ranch in Webb County.
County Name |
Site Name |
Plot Name |
Bastrop |
Lower Colorado River Authority |
Bastrop A |
Bastrop |
Lower Colorado River Authority |
Bastrop B |
Blanco |
Bamberger Ranch |
Blanco A |
Blanco |
Bamberger Ranch |
Blanco B |
Brazos |
Texas Instruments Property |
Brazos A |
Brazos |
Texas Instrument Property |
Brazos B |
Ellis |
Durant Rodrigue |
Rodrigue A |
Ellis |
Durant Rodrigue |
Rodrigue B |
Hays |
Freeman Ranch |
Hays A1 |
Hays |
Freeman Ranch |
Hays B1 |
Hays |
Freeman Ranch |
Hays A2 |
Hays |
Freeman Ranch |
Hays B2 |
Hays |
Freeman Ranch |
Hays A3 |
Hays |
Freeman Ranch |
Hays B3 |
Jim Wells |
La Copita Ranch |
La Copita Gazed 1A |
Jim Wells |
La Copita Ranch |
La Copita Gazed 1B |
Jim Wells |
La Copita Ranch |
La Copita Gazed 2A |
Jim Wells |
La Copita Ranch |
La Copita Gazed 2B |
Kaufman |
Star Brand Ranch |
Star Brand A |
Kaufman |
Star Brand Ranch |
Star Brand B |
Kaufman |
W. R. Braziel |
Braziel A |
Kaufman |
W. R. Braziel |
Braziel B |
Kaufman |
Garry Hawes |
Hawes A |
Kaufman |
Garry Hawes |
Hawes B |
Kendall |
Guadalupe State Park |
Guadalupe A |
Kendall |
Guadalupe State Park |
Guadalupe B |
Kerr |
Kerr Wildlife Management Area |
Kerr 1 |
Kerr |
Kerr Wildlife Management Area |
Kerr 2 |
Kerr |
Kerr Wildlife Management Area |
Kerr 3 |
Kerr |
Kerr Wildlife Management Area |
Kerr 4 |
Kerr |
Kerr Wildlife Management Area |
Kerr 5 |
Kerr |
Kerr Wildlife Management Area |
Kerr 6 |
Mason |
Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area |
Mason OFA |
Mason |
Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area |
Mason OFB |
Mason |
Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area |
Mason MPA |
Mason |
Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area |
Mason MPB |
Menard |
Menard County |
Menard A |
Menard |
Menard County |
Menard B |
Travis |
City of Austin |
Austin Baker 1 |
Travis |
City of Austin |
Austin Baker 2 |
Travis |
City of Austin |
Austin Hafif East |
Travis |
City of Austin |
Austin Hafif West |
Webb |
Webb County |
Webb A |
Webb |
Webb County |
Webb B |
Table 1. County, Sites, and Plots that the RLEM Extention on campus maintains.
A paired watershed approach is being used for each demonstration site. Procedures follow EPA Paired Watershed Study Design (1993, US EPA, Office of Water, Washington, D. C. 841-F-93-009). During the calibration phase, all catchments will receive the same treatment (current management by the landowner). A minimum of ten runoff events for all catchments at a given location is required for calibration. Folowing calibration, one catchment in each pair of watersheds will receive a BMP for that situation based on resource needs and landowner objectives. The other catchment will continue with the landowner management practices. These demonstrations will continue for a minimim of five years. This length of time is necessary for normal successional change to occur following treatment and to allow “stabilization” before concluding effects.
BMPs were established on additional catchments in Hays county, Mason county, and Kerr county this past spring (Table 2). BMPs will be established on the catchments in Bastrop, Brazos, Kendall/Comal, and Jim Wells (La Copita) county demonstrations this winter/spring 2003.
Location |
Treated/Untreated |
Plot |
Date |
Typeof Treatment |
Braziel
BrazielStar Brand Star Brand Mason Mtn.Mason Mtn.Mason Mtn. Mason Mtn.Hays Co. Hays Co.Hays Co. Hays Co.Hays Co. Hays Co.KerrKerr Kerr KerrKerr Kerr La Copita La Copita La Copita La Copita HawesHawes DurantDurant |
Untreated
UntreatedTreated Untreated UntreatedTreatedTreated UntreatedTreated UntreatedTreated UntreatedTreated UntreatedTreatedTreated Untreated UntreatedTreated Untreated Untreated Untreated Untreated Untreated UntreatedTreated UntreatedTreated |
A
BA B OFAOFBMPA MPBA1 B1A2 B2A3 B312 3 45 6 A1 B1 A2 B2 AB AB |
March-01March-01April-02 April-02 March-02 March-02 March-02 February-03 March-02 March-02 April-02 |
Established a grass nursury with 6 different native grasses near the plots.Established seeding with native grasses.Established seeding with native Grasses. Removed all woody vegetation including cactus and treated stumps with remedy. Simulatin Grazing every 90 days and raking material. Removed all of the juniper after cutting it down. Cut all of the juniper with a bobcat and left it lay in the plot. The plot was burned during a prescribed burn. Cut down all woody vegetation in the plot. Removed all understory leaving mature live oak and white shinoak on the plot. Total deferment of grazing by steers and horses. Mowing of plot but landowner has infrequently shredded the property. |
Table 2. Treated and untreated plots on watershed catchments.
To see the detailed report for each location click on the map or select from the drop-down list below