Lake Brownwood Watershed - Texas State Soil and Water ...

Brownwood lies a few miles downstream of Lake Brownwood in Brown County and has a population of
approximately 20,000. Table 3-1 presents population data for the six counties partially within the watershed. In addition to
historical information for the counties, the data include municipal and rural population projections through 2050.
The six counties that are partially within the watershed began to be settled by white Europeans in the 1850s and
experienced moderate growth until the early 1900s. Droughts, a drop in cotton production due to the boll weevil, and the
Great Depression were major factors that caused all of the counties except Taylor to lose population from 1930 through
1960 or 1970. Since 1970, the population has grown at a low to moderate rate. Taylor County, or rather Abilene, grew
rapidly until 1960 when its growth stabilized at a much lower rate. Brown, Coleman, Runnels and Taylor counties are
expected to experience low to moderate growth through 2050. In Brown and Runnels counties, the growth is expected to
occur primarily in rural areas. In contrast, Eastland and Callahan counties are expected to see their populations decrease
during the first half of this century.
Wildlife
The flora and fauna of the watershed are typical of north central Texas; species are mostly western, but some
eastern plants and animals can be found. The flora consists of three natural types: mesquite-grassland savanna, upland
scrub, and bottomland woodland along the creeks. The Texas poppy-mallow is a federally listed endangered plant species
that may occur in the study area (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2001). The fauna of the area includes such reptiles as
yellow mud turtles, Texas map turtles, western cottonmouth snakes, hognose snakes, western diamond-backed
rattlesnakes, coachwhips, horned toads, and the eastern tree lizard; birds such as turkeys, screech owls, wood ducks,
turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks; and such mammals as white-tailed deer, black-tailed jackrabbits, opossums and
ringtails. Federally listed, threatened or endangered animal species that may occur in the study area include four bird
species (golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, whooping crane and bald eagle) and one reptile (Concho water
snake).
White-tailed deer provide an important resource to landowners and land managers within the Lake Brownwood watershed.
Their presence adds aesthetic as well as economic value to farms and ranches throughout the region. The demand for
lease hunting recreation for white-tailed deer creates an economic incentive for landowners to manage land and habitat
resources to meet the biological needs of white-tailed deer. Increasing demands for the space that white-tailed deer and
their habitat occupies in the Cross Timbers and Prairies introduces a serious management problem (Poor, 1997).
3.2 HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONS
In many areas of the state, historical records show that higher levels of spring-flow and streambase-flow occurred
in the past and that brush encroachment in watersheds has been an important factor in the declining flows. A great
increase in the amount and distribution of woody species, particularly honey mesquite, in the Lake Brownwood watershed
over the past century suggests that surface water flows in the area may have been affected. Unfortunately, the
hydrological data that have been collected in the watershed are not well suited to assessing whether reduced streambaseflow
or spring-flow have occurred.
3.2.1 Vegetation History
Based largely on anecdotal evidence and recent regional descriptions, the vegetation of the Lake Brownwood
watershed appears to have changed considerably over the past 150 years. Distinct land use changes brought on by
European settlement and an extensive drought precipitated a widespread transformation of the landscape by the end of the
nineteenth century. This change included a great increase in the amount and distribution of woody species, particularly
honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa). The once distinct boundaries among the various habitat types have blurred, as each
community assemblage has become more homogenous and grasslands have almost disappeared.
3-6