Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Is Texas ALWAYS in a drought?

I just looked at your guy's departure from normal precip maps over the last ten years. It looks awful!

When are you gonna catch a break?

I madge-in some part of Texas ALWAYS is....

luckily my ponds are all full

I got .12" of rain last Thursday but the ponds dropped about .50" Usually April/May are the big rain months but it hasn't happened yet.

They're gonna catch a break about the same time Indiana quits havin blizzards and tornados.

It just looks like to me that the folks in Texas are being asked to tolerate a lot more "under normals" than anywhere else. There was like two good years in the last ten.

I have heard some predictions that Texas is due for a 10-15 year drought cycle.

I remember reading a quote from LBJ saying that wherever he grew up in west Texas they "spent half their time praying for rain and the other half praying for it to stop".

When I renovated my pond 4-5 years ago, I figured it would take 2 or 3 years for it to fill. It took about 2 months that year and I don't believe that'll ever happen again. Pond is right at 1.75 ac. when full and 14-15 feet deep in the deep pockets. Maybe in a few more years we'll see something fall from the sky but I won't hold my breath.

Just read where they are stealing water in Cal goind as far as drilling holes in supply lines.

we can always hope for more of what is scheduled for this afternoon:

Bruce, I'm not sure anymore that the drought is not just the new normal. Usually we get all our filling rains by the end of May, then it's just random Summer showers. It seems like I35 has always been the dividing line between the haves and have nots. That line is moving East for sure.

I do firmly believe that most folks should really give a lot of thought to where they build new ponds. Having a nice pond behind the house may not be the best option anymore. I've told several people to pick their preferred spot, then turn around. If you don't have an almost excessive amount of watershed to support the pond, then you might seriously reconsider it's location.

I'm currently considering a visit by Otto myself right now. Not for pond work, but to reroute my watershed. I'm losing approximately 40 acres of runoff behind my dam, and I think it's about time to catch that water. 60 acres isn't enough anymore.

Oh, the guy putting in my new aerobic septic tank told me that he expects water well regulations soon, and household use may be all that's permitted. That'll be a new one for us.

Water in fact may be the new gold.

Al just about said it all. East Texas has recently and finally getting rain. West Texas is still in real trouble.

I figure this summer will finish off my water holes.

I really feel for you guys down there. We had 1" of rain last night and this morning there were absolutely 0 puddles.....

Whiskey's for drinkin' and water's for fightin'.

This photo sums pretty well sums up the last few years in Texas

I never really met a Texan until ten years ago. I now have two words to describe virtually every Texan I've met.

1. Friendly
2. Pragmatic....ALL you guys are very much "we'll find a way to make do" people. Impressive.

I agree with Bruce. Kelly I thought it would be a thimble.

I also feel for y'all Texans. I started planting my garden about 3 weeks ago and I have the garden close enough to water with a hose. I haven't hardly had to water it, we keep getting so much rain.

I have my fingers crossed for an el nino event!

Historically they occur about every 20 years, and those that know, seem to think it is on the way!


http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2014/05/el-nino-or-bust/


The last time this happened, all of our west Texas ponds filled up and the creeks were running.

Sure hope so.

I live 20 min from Wichita Falls, Tx. but they supply many smaller towns such as mine with water. They estimate they have 400 days of water left if they stick to stage 4 rations. They continue to debate moving to stage 5 which would mean drinking treated sewage. The collective lakes that supply the town are at an average of 20%. There are some that the docks have been on dry land for a couple years now. It is a very big problem for a town of over 100,000. If it does not rain enough to add serious water to the lakes, people will have to consider moving due to no water. There is a major air force base there that could close and be a major blow to the town.

Oh, that's GRIM!

I can't but laugh at my situation. Been waiting for 6 months for the small rains to stop to get the dozer in to renovate the pond and relay the driveways and other guy to dig a well. "too wet to get the big dozer in to do the work" Last week finally get started and then one day in a Corel Snake is in the seat of the dozer on day two, try for two days to get him to then 4.5" of rain comes!!!! Life is what happens while you are making plans!

Hope to go camp on the land this week.

Pond is almost full after draining it and after 9 months of little to no rain !!??!?!?!?!?!?! I just hope it doesn't take me another 5 years to fill it next time!!! Have to cut the dam again next time wether permits!

Rob C

I live about 35 miles north in Oklahoma but it does seem like the new normal. Used to every spring the rivers would get high and roll a couple times anyway. Hasn't happened in a while. Last spring some but not all of my stock ponds got full , first time in several years.
It will take an unbelievable amount of rain to fill the lakes.

It's time for that 100 year flood I think. How long has it been anyway from the last one?