Plum Creek
ConservationDistrict

Plum Creek Conservation District
N E W S L E T T E R
Volume 1 Number 5

September 2013

Guadalupe Blanco River Authority - Plum Creek Flood Study
Inside this issue:

GBRA—Plum Creek
Flood Study
Page 1Drought TolerantPlants
Page 2
Watering Tips
Page 2

2013 Summer Water
LevelsPage 32012 PCCD Water
Use
Page 3

Over the course of next year, PCCD
will be participating in the Guadalupe
Watershed Flood Protection Planning
Study-Phase II
to model thehydrological conditions of several ofits high hazard dams. This study is partof a larger GBRA project which has
been financed through a grant from theUS Army Corp of Engineers and theTexas Water Development Board. The
grant funds 75% of the total cost.
One of PCCD’s primary interests intaking part of this study is completing
breach analyses for several of its highhazard dams. A breach analysis
simulates, using a computer generated
model, where flooding will occur due
to a dam breach. In 2009, a majorityof PCCD’s dams were classified ashigh hazard. Dams classified as highhazard have the potential to harm lifeor property and the environment
should they fail. It is important tounderstand that the high hazard
classification does not mean a dam
doesn’t function properly or is not
structurally sound. PCCD is required
to complete
Emergency Action
Plans (EAPs) for all of its high &significant hazard classified dams.
The purpose of an EAP is to identify
potential emergency conditions at adam and specify preplanned actions
to be followed to minimize property
damage and loss of life. A
significant component of an EAP isthe inundation map which iscompiled from a breach analysis.
Emergency personnel from cities andcounties
wouldutilize
theseinundation maps for evacuation
purposes.

TheIn 2011, inundation assessments
were completed for 16 PCCD
dams
througha
NaturalResources Conservation Servicegrant. Since then, additionaldams
havechanged
theirclassification status from low
hazard to, either significant or
high. The inundation analyses
will be completed for six dams
shown on the map below by theengineering
firm
Halff
Associates, Inc. This project isanticipated to be finished by
September 2014.

PCCD Dams Selected
For Hydrological StudyDrought Tolerant Plants
Page 2As we all know, Texas weather can be extreme. Although the average rainfall for this area is 32 inches, variations
from year to year can range from 10 inches, during a drought, to over 50 inches. Texan gardeners want hardy plantsthat not only survive, but do well in these conditions. Fortunately, researchers from Texas A&M AgriLife havetested numerous plants in search of stand-out hybrids that are resilient to Texas’ harsh climate. Plants that meet thevigorous testing procedures are inducted as a Texas Superstar@ . There are over 50 plants in this esteemed category.
Showcased below are three Texas Superstars@ that are especially heat and drought tolerant. Including these plants
into one’s landscape will benefit homeowners as they face reoccurring droughts and prolonged water restrictions.

New GoldTMLantana
Lantana x hybrida'New Gold'

Drought

Drought tolerant, heat loving, low maintenance annual with a wealth ofgolden yellow flowers. Reduced fruit set promotes prolific blooming
spring till frost. Deer tolerant. A very adaptable and popular annual.

Tolerant Plants

Vitex, Texas Lilac, or Chaste Tree
Vitex agnus-castus

Deciduous large shrub or small tree with distinctive palmately compound
leaves. Profuse spikes of lavender flowers, blooming heavily in the early summer, and then sporadically throughout the summer and fall. Vitex is heat,drought, and pest tolerant.

Exposure: Full sun; partial sun

Plumbago Cape Plumbago
Plumbago auriculata

Tender perennial with profuse blue flowers which thrives in the hot Texas
summer. Disease-, pest- and deer-resistant. Sometimes called "sky flower" because of the sky-blue color of its flowers. Native of South Africa.
Exposure: Full sun; partial sun
Source for Plant Pictures and Descriptions : http://www.texassuperstar.com/plants/

Tips for Watering Wisely
Install a Rain Sensor
Automatically shuts off your irrigation system when it rains preventing unnecessary watering.

Set sprinklers to keep the water on the landscape and off the pavement
Monitor and make simple adjustments to the sprinklers to reduce runoff from the landscape.

Inspect your irrigation system monthly
Check for leaks, broken or clogged heads, and other problems.

Consult a Professional
A certified irrigation professional can design, install, maintain, or audit your system
to ensure you're using the proper amount of water to support a healthy landscape.

Page 3

Volume 1 Number 5

Spring/Summer 2013
The table below shows water levels for 10 wells that were measured in the Spring/Summer of 2013 along with theircorresponding lowest recorded water level. If you are interested in finding out the water level in your well and how it
Well

Spring/Summer 2013 Levels

Lowest Recorded Level

CargileKosarek
LarsenLipscomb
Reinecke
McCormick #1
Moore
Platt- 43.9
- 50.25- 22.3- 91.57- 70.05- 72.6- 66.35- 122.35- 66.00- 50.8- 22.3- 93.9- 73.00- 73.0- 70.6- 122.35

Rodriguez
Wells- 62.8 * while pumping- 81.55- 55.85- 90.35

2012 PCCD Water Use
In 2012, 2011.87 acre-feet of water was used by PCCD’s permit holders. The map below illustrates PCCD’s permitted wateruse distribution. There are several areas circled in dashed yellow with concentrated water use - those areas being along Hwy
86, the Dale area, and the Brownsboro area. Permits currently fall into one of three water use categories: public supply, irrigation, or poultry production. Water used for public supply is the largest user group and accounts for 83 % of PCCD’s permitted
water use. Water used for irrigation purposes accounts for 9% of PCCD’s water use and poultry production accounts for 8%.