Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Texas Rains

Looks like much of Texas is getting heavy rains, some of that rain is badly needed, some of it isn't... With all the Texas forum members on here, how are you all fairing? Happy to have the rain or wish it would go away?

Saw the floods the rain is causing due to hard, dry ground----it should fill many a BOW back up!

Thrilled to have the rain, but Rainman nailed it for us...

The ground is so hard and dry that we needed a slow soaker to loosen it up. It rained too hard too quickly and the water is running wild. I won't complain, though.

We have had 2.5 inches of slow rain, which was needed. Now we need a good hard rain to fill the old pond up. A little south and east of us in rained 13 inches, which was a bit too much. We never complain about what rain we get at my house.

So far, yesterday and today, 4.8 inches at my house in the metroplex and more coming over the next couple of days. No idea how much at my place 60 miles NNW.

I've been watching the weather radar non stop for the food plots I planted in PA. It seems the rain parts around them like the Red Sea! Glad to see you all are getting some badly needed rain though. I know some of you were really hurting in that category!

Many places south of San Antonio were in the worst drought in recorded history.

It literally looked like a desert in areas that are usually lush and green.

I drove around San Antonio this May when I was in Texas, and some of the corn fields were withered to nothing. It was looking pretty dry then, and that wasn't too long after Spring. I'd hate to see it now after the hot dry summer!

All Ive gotten is a few sprinkles and some mist.My fish are coming up to the facet in the back yard for a drink.

Dave, I shipped several hundred Tilapia to San Antonio last week. The client knew they could handle poor water quality, then asked if they could handle NO water quality!!

Of course he was joking but I still had to comment that it might pose a slight problem!

It just keeps dripping with occasional actual rain here at home. Wonder what 48 hours of drips adds up to? Glad I got out to mow around the pond for the first time in 4 months at the pond, would have been a jungle after the rain. Pond was full so I guess the rain was just going to make it muddy.

I feel bad for you guys in the Texas draught areas. We're being hit hard here in California, third straight drought year in a row. Water rationing is hurting many farmers here. When we last drove through the San Joaquin Valley (where the majority of California farming is done and where much of the produce of the United States is grown) you could really see the impact. The water allocation for farmers had been cut down severly. There were areas in which entire fields were left unplanted and groves of trees had be reduced severly. The farmers have placed signs along Highway 5 that say "Congress Created Dust Bowl" (referring to the water allocation reduction to farmers that was voted on by the California Congress.



The entire state of California is under drought conditions from "Abnormally Dry" to "Severe."

But if you look at the US drought monitor we are listed as severe where as parts of Texas are listed as Exceptional (which is the highest drought level).

US Drought Monitor

So far, since Friday night, 6.8 inches here in Hurst.

Dave,I havent gone out and looked at my raingage,but 1 inch of steady RAIN ussually nets me a foot or a little more of runoff in the pond.So far its looks like Im up MAYBE 6 inches.The rain just keeps going around me.

Leaving Dallas to go east to check on new pond. Been following radar and it appeared like we got quite a bit of rain. Will check back later today with an update and new pics, I hope. Last time we "checked" we nearly spent the night as my truck got stuck but the '47 8N came to the rescue.

Here it has rained sinced Thursday night with very short periods of drizzle or less. Almost all was slow and it totaled 7.9". It soaked right up. Pond's not even full. Maybe raised it a foot or two. I am ready for it to stop.
I mostly finished building a one acre pond behind a half acre pond at the dairy and I don't want the old pond to over flow and wash those damn green sunfish into the new one. Yeah you heard me. They ruin a pond if they are the first ones in. I want to start over by pumping it into the new one and moving only bluegill and redear. I'll look to see how full it is Monday.

4.5" hear outside of Ennis. No runnoff really to speak of. Measured some cracks out in the bottom land a few days ago. Easily 4" wide and a measured 2ft depth.

This is really the best rain we could ask for. You can't always get what you want, but rarely do we get a good soaking rain like this. Its really going to help.

Didn't get much runoff but I'll take this anyday.

Been about 48 hours since the rain started. 8.1 inches in the rain gauge and it is sheltered by the house. Any coming from the East, which it has been, will only partly get in the gauge. At my house here, there hasn't been that much runoff from the lawn.

Can you believe that none of my neighbors at Bowie have a rain gauge?

Hot damn,a rain band came thru a couple hours ago and I caught about 3-31/2 feet of runoff.YEEHAW,my fish get to swim instead odf walk for awhile.Ill catch a little more at least before the runoff stops.

Hey congratulations Tom. I just got off the phone with a guy at Bowie. Two days of continuous light rain and no runoff. In other words, a Farmers rain.

Glad to hear you guys keep getting or are finally getting the rain you badly need... Anyone want to spare a half inch or so?

Existing pond came up 8". 6" for the new. Just enough to compensate for the recent evaporation. Disappointed but we will just wait for the next rain.

CJ,its rained a little off and on last night.I might be able to spare a little,let it turn light so I can see where Im at.How well does your laptop take "wet" email.

Update. Im stoked.Im about 3 feet from full pool.My pond doubled in size yesterday and last night.Another 3 feet and it will double again and Ill get ALL the rest of the spawning areas back.
CJ,Im sending you a PM. Be sure youre at the pond when you open it.Ha Ha

We have had a slow steady rain for 4 days all ponds primary spillways have been running at full bore for several days. A beautiful site considering we were about 4 feet down from the long hot summer. Sometimes it pays to have to much watershed.

Rocky,I was hoping you'd chime in.I was wondering where your rainfall fit in to the picture.
On a side note,I missed picking up one of my 3 inch pumps and it went underwater.One more thing to have to take care of today,as I plan on heading out to Branson tommorrow.Gonna be a busy day.