The Guadalupe River: - Upper Guadalupe River Authority

The Guadalupe River:2012 Year in ReviewPhoto By Travis Linscomb, UGRAThe North Fork and South Fork of the Guadalupe River join just upstream of Schumacher Crossing in Hunt,Texas. This confluence marks the start of the mainstem Guadalupe River which continues approximately400 miles downstream to the Gulf of Mexico.

Meeting the ChallengeBy Stan KubenkaUGRA Board PresidentFor community leaders, the challenge to meet thewater supply needs of Kerr County citizens whilestill providing for the environment and economicdevelopment is of the highest priority. The task ofbalancing these needs is also greatly influenced byour climate and the structure of agencies chargedwith managing water supplies.Even before the recent droughts, the rainfall historyof the Hill Country has been one of a semi-aridregion averaging about thirty inches of rain peryear. However, we all know that a given year israrely average and can range from over 50 incheslike we saw in 2007 to the devastating 13 inchesof rain in 2011.Locally, four government entities are charged withcreating and administering water policies: 1) UpperGuadalupe River Authority; 2) HeadwatersGroundwater Conservation District; 3) City of Kerrville;and 4) Kerr County. All of these governmentgroups have specific responsibilities to serve theinterest for which they were created. As a result,it has often been a challenge to develop a comprehensivestrategy to maximize the best waterpolicies for Kerr County citizens. This fracturedapproach is somewhat understandable when youlearn how these government groups were established.Most are established by Texas state lawor legislative action and are generally limited tocreating policies that pertain to their specific responsibilities.This focused scope of action worksfairly well when the policies made by each governmentgroup are not essential for corporate planning.However, this type of policy isolationism isa formula for failure when it comes to comprehensivewater policies and plans because it often pitssmall agencies against larger more powerful agencies.The entire State of Texas is short of water;therefore, there are numerous groups both privateand governmental that are working day and nighton how to firm up their water rights and reserves.Many of these groups are well funded and havestrong political ties in Austin. Without a cohesiveeffort in Kerr County, their actions will more thanlikely diminish our water rights.I have been serving on the UGRA Board of Directorsfor the last 8 years. In that time I have seena vast improvement in the cooperation among localgovernment entities. These improved workingrelationships are helping create more comprehensivewater planning strategies for all of Kerr County.This type of cooperation not only strengthensour water negotiating positions outside of KerrCounty but also optimizes the use of local citizens’tax money and our precious water resources.Maintaining the great quality of life we all enjoy inthe Hill Country is an everyday challenge facingthe leaders of Kerr County. I feel confident we canachieve this task and I am looking forward to workingwith all leaders of our community.

First Water and Sediment Control Basin CompletedAs a leader in water supply planning for Kerr County,UGRA is tasked with identifying and implementingwater supply strategies that will ensure ourlivability and survivability in this beautiful cornerof the world. Nimitz Lake is the City of Kerrville’sprimary water supply and serves a large numberof Kerr County residents. Therefore, recent UGRAwater enhancement strategies have focused onareas upstream of Nimitz Lake in western KerrCounty with the goal of increasing the flow of theGuadalupe River into Nimitz Lake.UGRA’s Water Enhancement Cost Share Programincentivizes landowners to manage brush,primarily cedar. Land covered with native grassesinstead of dense cedar allows a greater amount ofwater to infiltrate into the soil to recharge the aquiferand bolster spring flow. This increased springflow results in greater river flow, increasing wateravailability for Nimitz Lake.In 2012, UGRA began a second water enhancementprogram, the construction of water and sedimentcontrol basins in western Kerr County thatwill potentially benefit water supply in Nimitz Lakeas well.The decision to implement these strategies in westernKerr County is in part based on a 2008 WaterFlow Study that concluded Kerr County comprises64% of the watershed for Canyon Lake. The samestudy analyzed verified U.S. Geological Surveystream flow data taken over a 68-year period andstated that over that time period, 57% of the flowinto Canyon Lake came from Kerr County. Thequestion was, “How do we beneficially use someof this water before it rushes downstream?”Due to the hilly terrain and shallow soils, rainfallin Kerr County quickly rushes off the land into thecreeks and ultimately the Guadalupe River. Oncethe runoff enters the river, it rapidly flows downstreamand leaves Kerr County. The rationale behindbuilding the water and sediment control basinsis to slow down flood flow to prevent erosionand sediment pollution of the Guadalupe River.The additional benefit is that the captured floodimpulses are slowly released, which in turn keepsthe river running longer. The released water actslike additional spring flow.In 2012, UGRA completed the first facility on theKerr Wildlife Management Area (see inset photos).The dam and basin is expected to annuallyimpound and release up to 72 acre-feet of water(23,461,272 gallons). Assuming the average personuses 70 gallons of water per day, that’s potentiallyadding enough water to Kerr County’s waterbudget for up to 918 people per year. Additionalfacilities in western Kerr County have the potentialto further increase the available water supply tosupport economic development and firm up waterresources during times of drought. With that goalin mind, UGRA is moving forward with constructingthe next water and sediment control basin.

UGRA’s Year in Review 2012Call UGRA at (830) 896-5445 for more informationIn 2012, 25 volunteers collected 289 surface water samples at27 locations throughout Kerr County as part of UGRA’sVolunteer Summer Study Program.Each January, UGRA films the Guadalupe River corridor in KerrCounty to track watershed changes over time. Aerial footagecan be accessed at www.ugra.org.To monitor and protect water quality,UGRA conducted 49 sampling events ata total of 40 sites throughout Kerr Countyin 2012.To date, UGRA’s Bacteria ReductionPlan has funded the installation oftwelve pet waste stations in our communityand an additional ten stationsare planned. In 2012, the Flat RockPark pet waste stations collected over1,100 pounds of waste and preventedthis waste from washing into the river.The ninth annual UGRA River Clean Up broughttogether 270 volunteers who collected more than11,000 pounds of garbage.UGRA contracted with Garrett Services ofKerrville for the low water crossing cleanup program which removed more than15,000 pounds of garbage from our riverand creeks in 2012.UGRA’s public education program includesresources and materials to enhance publicknowledge of water quality and quantity issues.The lingering drought of 2011 continues to havean impact on water quality and quantity. In 2012,below average rainfall left our waterways at verylow levels.UGRA’s nationally accredited commercialenvironmental laboratory prides itself on qualitytesting and customer service. In 2012, lab staffprocessed nearly 16,000 tests.UGRA Board Directors meet with representatives ofHeadwaters GCD, the City of Kerrville, and State RepresentativeHarvey Hilderbran to discuss water issueswith State Representative Lyle Larson of the HouseNatural Resources Committee.UGRA serves on the Region JPlanning Group and works todevelop water supply plans to meetour water demands for the next50 years.

UGRA’s Year in Review 2012 cont.UGRA Rainwater Catchment Systems RebateUp to $ 50 Rebateto eligible applicants on systems purchased after March 23, 2011Contact UGRA at (830)896-5445for more informationThere’s more than one way to catch rainOur most precious asset...UGRA routinely investigates water quality complaintsand partners with the appropriate agencies to resolveany problems.$50 Rebate $ 50 Rebate $ 50 Rebate $ 50 Rebate $ 50 RebateIn effort to promote water conservationand watershed stewardshipthrough rainwater harvesting, nearly50 Kerr County homeowners receivedrebates from UGRA in 2012 for theirrainwater catchment systems.UGRA produces monthly newspaperarticles and two weekly radio programsto keep the public informed ofwater issues.Rep. Harvey Hilderbran addressed the standing room onlycrowd during the UGRA Wildfire Preparedness Seminar.The Water Enhancement Cost Share Programincentivized 11 landowners to manage brush onnearly 1,500 acres in western Kerr County.UGRA works withthe U.S. GeologicalSurvey to routinelymonitor flow of theGuadalupe River.In 2012, UGRA conducted 31 programs to teach approximately2,500 Kerr County citizens about our water resources.The third annual River Clean Up t-shirt design contest challenged localartists to compete for the $100 prize.Spearheaded by Kerrville resident Tim Lewis, the TownCreek Clean Up Team is a group of volunteers whopick up trash from Town Creek four times per year. Thegroup is sponsored by UGRA along with the City ofKerrville and Riverside Nature Center.

Status of Groundwater and Surface Water LevelsAverage water level of fourgroundwater monitoring wells.Courtesy of Headwaters GCD.Daily Flow at USGS Gage inKerrville vs Rainfallin KerrvilleUGRA Board of Directors:Stan Kubenka - PresidentMike Hughes - Vice-PresidentLes Ferguson - Secretary-TreasurerLucy Wilke - Asst. Secretary-TreasurerMike AllenHarold DanfordHugh JonsClaudell KerchevilleScott S. Parker125 Lehmann Drive - Suite 100Kerrville, TX 78028(830) 896-5445www.ugra.org