The Brazos River emerges at the convergence of Double Mountain Fork and Salt Fork near the east boundary of Stonewall County. It runs 840 miles through Texas to its mouth on the Gulf of Mexico (The Official Website of the State of Texas, n.d). It is the longest river in Texas, and it has the greatest discharge. There are several watersheds along its course as shown on the map above. I am going to deal with the Bosque River Watershed.
The Bosque River Watershed starts in Erath County, and includes sections of Bosque, Hamilton, and Coryell Counties. The watershed discharges its water into the Brazos River, downstream of Lake Waco in McLennan County, and drains approx. 1,653 sq. miles. The watershed encompasses portions of Blackland Prairie and Oak Woods eco-regions (The Official Website of the State of Texas, n.d). The soils in this area range from fine-textured clays to coarse-textured sands. The distinctive land uses include animal-feeding operations, agriculture, pasture land, range land, and urban areas. Lake Waco acts as flood control in the area, while at the same time providing drinking water for the surrounding communities.
The Brazos River Authority is the organization that is mostly involved in watershed projects in the Bosque River Watershed. It has been working to coordinate efforts to improve the watershed. Its efforts have been made possible by the Clean Water Act. Its main objective has been to identify all projects dealing with pollution prevention, monitor their progress, track the rules and regulations, identify trends in water quality, assist in the efficient use of resources, and enhance communication between the relevant parties. The Authority also provides a point of contact between the various stakeholders a...
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...ime soon. The experience was worth every penny, and I will not hesitate to grab any chance I get to go back. I know that the watershed can turn out to be a major tourist attraction, especially since it favours activities such as sport fishing, rafting, canoeing, and kayaking. I am definitely going back to that place with some of my friends, and this time I will try out each and every water sport available, especially the ones I did not try out last time.
References
http://www.brazos.org/crpPDF/Subwatershed_Index_Map_2007.pdf
The Official Website of the State of Texas. (n.d). Retrieved April 13, 2011, from
http://www.texas.gov/
The Watershed. (n.d). Retrieved April 13, 2011, from
http://www.brazos.org/projectsNBAbout.asp
North Bosque Watershed Coordination. (n.d). Retrieved April 13, 2011, from
http://www.brazos.org/projectsnorthbosque.asp
The Geological history of the Houston area includes surface water present in several types of lakes, rivers, and a wide-ranging system of bayous as well as, manmade canals that all share the rainwater runoff management system. In of Harris County 25%-30% of the land is within a 100 year flood plain. Elevation range of Harris 0'-310', so presently land surface and uppermost sediments in the Houston area are geologically very young strata and research isolates that its ages are measured in tens of thousands, not millions, of years. Distinctly this knowledge concludes it is faulted by a natural process, before significant fluid extraction ha...
Another type of landform is river. Rivers are large natural streams of water flowing in a channel to the sea, lake, or another stream. A river that flows through Petrified Forest National Park is the Puerco River. The Puerco River is the main tributary of the Little Colorado River, and it flows through an area of about two thousand six hundred fifty-four square miles. It is one hundred sixty-seven miles long, and since its drainage basin is extremely dry, it has a low average discharge of less than seventy cubic feet per second. During most of the year, the river is a wash containing little or no water at all. However, flashfloods may occur when there are downpours.
According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services website, the Rio Grande Valley falls under Region 11, with three locations in the Hidalgo County area consisting of Edinburg, McAllen, and Weslaco. There are also two in Cameron County, which are in the Harlingen and Brownsville Area (DFPS).
Brazoria County gets its name from the Brazos River which runs through the county and is also the longest river in Texas. The first traffic bridge was built across the Brazos River in 1912, which provided transportation between the eastern and western parts of the county. The bridge was made out of wood and with lack of maintenance it fell into the river in the 1930s. Brazoria County is also the home of the San Bernard River. People come from all over the county, and surrounding counties, to water ski. The San Bernard is also the river that is transportation for many barges to get to the intercostal waterway. Brazoria County is also the home of many plantations. One of those plantations is known as Varner Hogg, which is also located in the historical West Columbia. The Varner Hogg plantation started in 1824, where a “rum distillery was established and livestock was raised” (….varner website) There once was a sugar mill on the property, but all that remains now is a line of bricks that surrounds the large kettle. Varner Hogg plantation is now a place of history where you're able to visit the plantation house and other buildings on the property. Varner
Texas, with its abundances of natural resources, is facing a new demon, one that doesn’t even seem possible, a shortage of water. Water, without it nothing can survive. Texas is the second largest state for landmass in the nation and ninth for water square miles. Within the borders of Texas are more than 100 lakes, 14 major rivers, and 23 aquifers, so why has water become such an important issue for the state? Politicians and conservationists all agree that without a new working water plan, the state could be facing one of the most damaging environmental disasters they have ever seen. The issues that shape the states positions are population growth, current drought conditions, and who actually owns the water.
With the changes coming from global warming and increased greenhouse gasses, there will be many impacts to Texas over the coming decades. One of these impacts is the effect on our water resources. Texas’ main source of fresh water is precipitation, coming almost completely from rainfall. With temperatures rising and with an expectation that precipitation levels will most likely drop in coming years, this combination will put great stress on our water reservoirs. If we continue our current usage rates of water and if recent climate changes continue to persist then we will see a huge decrease in our water reservoirs. Also, given that we are in a drought, it appears that conditions are getting worse every year, posing a serious problem for the future if this issue is not addressed now.
There are many causes and solutions to the deterioration of the Colorado River. The Colorado River is not the great river it used to be, with an abundant amount of healthy water, thriving wildlife and abundant plant life. With climate change, water salinity, pollution, and natural runoffs, the river’s water quality has deteriorated immensely. However, if communities and environmental groups join forces to research and raise money to find ways to help improve the Colorado River, it can get back to its original condition. This issues affects those who live by the river, concluding that I live somewhere near the river, I would love to see a change in the rivers condition to not only help the nature around it, but to help myself and others.
Americans today tend to believe that the Colorado River drought has been a recent occurrence, although drought relief strategies have been implemented since early 1997. To summarize, in the book The Colorado River Basin Drought Planning and Organizations, Colorado is named as the original state to acquire a drought relief plan. For instance, various assume water levels are diminutive in the Colorado and blame is due to the previous ten years of drought throughout the United States. Although it is true that water levels are at a record low, initial plans in the early 1920’s to introduce manufactured structures into the water basin is the original reason Colorado’s water system began to be compromised. It follows, then the supplementary natural
The Rio Grande River is one of the largest in North America. It runs 1,885 miles long, and supports many farmers and consumers in both Texas and Mexico. For example, Texas is the largest cotton and cattle producer in the United States. Texas has produced 13.86 million cattle and calves on a five-year average for the United States. Texas also has produced 5,800,000 bales of cotton for the United States. Cotton is used to make jeans, bed sheets, T-shirts, pillowcases, and much more. Produce like cattle and cotton need water and the Rio Grande River is a major contributor to the success of this produce. The cattle and cotton...
The Colorado River, before Yuma was built, ran wild. The Colorado River met up with the Gila River in the table-flat floodplains. When irrigation was first created people used gates to control the water flow to the fields. But, before they used the gates a dam had to be built in order to control how much water is flowing. After the dam was built the farmers would open the gates to the fields and let water run in, after the amount of water was needed the people would close the gates and the river kept flowing. This made farmer’s lives
The Colorado River is on a path that will take it to its end. The river is running out of water and cannot keep up with the high demand. New technology and growing industries require more water and more power. Organizations are attempting to solve the problem through public policy but the task may prove too large. Humans have changed the coarse of nature and it is up to us to come together and fight for change.
With towering bald cypress trees and long stretches of calm water, the Frio River in Concan, Texas, provides public waters for visitors looking to go tubing. Sitting next to Garner State Park, which provides ample recreational activities like hunting, fishing, and hiking, the Frio River has created my best summer memories. I have enjoyed countless summers burning my skin under the hot southern sun. Tradition calls my family to Frio County each summer, along with hundreds more families looking to escape their daily lives. Driving in, cell phone reception dies and people get the chance to look up and see the wondrous nature provided by the Texas Hill Country.
Situated in the south central part of the United States, Texas is the second largest state in the U.S. It is also the third fastest growing state and holds a number of the most populous cities in the nation [US Census,2013] and number one in the nation in producing greenhouse gasses [EPA, 2013]. Stress in water resources can be seen in rapidly populated and over populated areas, where the water demand is high and availability is limited. This is particularly magnified in Texas due to climate change. It is important to identify different factors that shape Texas’ climate before characterizing its implication on water supply in the future.
There is no hesitation when it comes to whether humans impact the global environment. However, it is questioned in whether human’s ecological footprint is either negatively or positively impacting. In clear perspective, humans share from both sides and their ecological footprint is noted towards whether it will benefit or harm the environment around them. Topics such as overpopulation, pollution, biomagnification, and deforestation are all human impacted and can harm the environment, but some include benefits into helping the world around us with solutions to their problems.
Throughout history, many individuals wish to discover and explain the relationship between nature and society, however, there are many complexities relating to this relationship. The struggle to understand how nature and society are viewed and connected derives from the idea that there are many definitions of what nature is. The Oxford dictionary of Human Geography (2003), explains how nature is difficult to define because it can be used in various contexts as well as throughout different time and spaces. As a result of this, the different understandings of what nature is contributes to how the nature society relationship is shaped by different processes. In order to better understand this relation there are many theorists and philosophers