Land of the Living Waters
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Land of the Living Waters Land of the Living Waters The South Llano The South Llano River, River, its Springs, its Springs, Photos: Jennifer Walker
description
Land of the Living Waters. The South Llano River, its Springs, and its Watershed. Photos: Jennifer Walker. Why the Study?. Conflicts develop when Rural communities have pressure place on water resources -lack of adequate data -laws favorable to development of resource - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Land of the Living Waters
Land of the Living WatersLand of the Living Waters
The South Llano River, The South Llano River,
its Springs, its Springs,
and its Watershedand its Watershed Photos: Jennifer Walker
Why the Study?
Conflicts develop when Rural communities have pressure place on water resources
-lack of adequate data-laws favorable to development of resource-lack of local organization and unified voice
Area of major
springs
Median Monthly Discharge for Llano River at Junction and Pedernales River at
Johnson City
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
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160
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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Cubic
Feet per
Second (cfs
)
S Llano Pedernales
Major Springs of the South Llano
Contribution to Flow
Big Paint ~ 45%
Seven Hundred ~ 35%
Tanner ~15%
Area of major
springs
Source of Springs
From Gunnar Brune, 1975
Elevation-- 2000’
Elevation-- 1900’
Groundwater Table and Direction of Flow
8,000 ac-ft of pumping Edwards County
8,000 ac-ft of pumping Edwards County following drought of 1950s
Simulated Drawdown of the Aquifer
Elevation-- 2000’
Elevation-- 1900’
Elevation-- 1930’
40-45% Reduction in River and Springflow
ESTIMATING THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON
THE TEXAS WATER BUDGET
AVERAGE GCM 50-yrPROJECTIONS (21 models)
UNDER A1B AND A2 SCENARIOS:SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S. REGION
TEMPERATURE: + 2 Co
PRECIPITATION: - 5 %
Normal (1951-80)
1950’s drought with modern water uses
rainfall runoff flow to coastevapo-transpiration*
100 100 100 100
82 87 35 29
78 86 26 16
* excluding lake evaporation
PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS OF SURFACE WATER BUDGET
as a fraction (%) of Normal
1950’s drought with modern water uses & global warming
Elevation-- 2000’
Elevation-- 1900’
Elevation-- ???????????????????????????????????????????????????
Median Monthly Discharge for Llano River at Junction and Pedernales River at
Johnson City
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Cubic
Feet per
Second (cfs
)
S Llano Pedernales
During the dry summer of 2006, the Llano River During the dry summer of 2006, the Llano River accounted for accounted for 75%75% of the flows into Highland Lakes of the flows into Highland Lakes
Possible Solutions?Possible Solutions?
Land Stewardship efforts increase the
absorption capacity of the Watershed
Source of funding for more land stewardship efforts
Potential Opportunity
Critical Source of Water
Supply to Downstream
Users, especially during
drought!
Source of Funding for more Land Stewardship efforts in South Llano Watershed
Potential Opportunity
Critical Source of Water
Supply to Downstream
Users, especially during
drought!
Other Issues
• Groundwater Exports– By law, a Groundwater
District cannot impose more restrictive production limits on groundwater exports
• Groundwater Management Areas– Groundwater Districts
are in the process of determining Desired Future Conditions
Determining how much water is available?
Texas Tech Llano River Field Station
Water’s for Fightin’
Water’s for Fightin’
Concerns about groundwater future aired
By Alyson ChapmanThe Daily Times
Published September 2, 2008
A large crowd packed the Groundwater Management Area 9 meeting Friday in Kerrville to discuss future conditions of the area's aquifers.
Groundwater experts from nine counties - Bandera, Blanco, Comal, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, North Bexar, North Medina and South Travis - are developing a plan for the aquifers for a 50-year period.
Water’s for Fightin’
LCRA approves request for James River water
A Mason County property owner's bid to divert water from the James River to reservoirs there cleared its first hurdle Wednesday, but more obstacles lie ahead for the plan opposed by downstream residents.
Proactive Opportunities
Provide a forum for natural resource management education and discussion
Identify common interests and provide a cohesive voice that benefits the local community regarding resource issues
Initiate local and regional stakeholder involvement in protection and preservation of resource before significant issues arise
How?
Provide opportunities for grant funded studies
Formation of Non-profit Organization
Watershed Association?LLANOMASONKIMBLESUTTONEDWARDSREAL
Mark your calendars: November 15thMark your calendars: November 15th
Tyson Broad
325.248.3137
[email protected]/southllanoriver.htm
PUBLIC WORKSHOP – Llano River Field Station
November 15, 2008
