Twin Buttes Highest Level for 2016

The North Pool at Twin Buttes is at its highest level this year with an elevation of 1,903.3 feet above sea level.  The South Concho is flowing at 30 cubic feet per second and both Spring Creek and Dove Creek are contributing to the North Pool's rise.  The water is now chilly if not outright cold.  I may be reduced to paddle boarding or waiting for an 80 degree day to try windsurfing (while working hard not to fall in).

As of this summer the South Pool stood at 1,929 feet above sea level.  I haven't been out recently to see if this held.   Any water higher than this should just run through the Equalization Channel to the North Pool.

I'm grateful for the water our lakes received this year and pray for future life giving rains. 

Update 12-18-16:  The North Pool's elevation is nearly 1904 feet.  

Cold Rain Forecast

There will be rain.  Will there be runoff?  Stay warm and dry the next four days.

Rains to Benefit Area Lakes?

Rains could benefit San Angelo's water supply.  Cooler temperatures and shorter days also decrease evaporation from area lakes.  It's a double blessing.

City Remains Hands Off on Twin Buttes

The City of San Angelo failed to inform citizens of their responsibility to purchase permits from Texas Parks and Wildlife to access Twin Buttes Reservoir property.  The program began September 1, just before the Labor Day Weekend.

Local outdoor sports columnist Bill Cullins wrote in the Standard Times:

It's currently unclear what the city's role (if any) will be as the new TPWD management plan goes in effect. Although I emailed the city manager and the Parks and Recreation director several questions related to the new plan and the city's role during implementation, neither of those officials chose to respond.

During presentations in 2015 and 2016 leading up to the agreement with TPWD, the city's Parks and Recreation director noted that "I don't think we're doing a very good job of managing those properties" and described the area (which was still under city management) as being "like a No Man's Land or the Wild West."

Parks Chief Carl White referred to the city's dealings with Twin Buttes as "a little hands off."   He used those words with City Council last year.  The city remains hands off by not informing citizens of changes and actions they need to take to comply.  Putting a link to the TPWD's new hunting map does not help non-hunters understand the changes and their need to buy an annual permit to be on Twin Buttes lands.

The 2015 San Angelo Living insert in the Standard Times marketed Twin Buttes as having chemical toilets (removed over a decade ago) and camper hookups (no longer working and inside pipe rail).  Management of this park is the city's responsibility.  That includes accurately representing what's there. 

Will TPWD's Hunting Program reverse the city's near abandonment of responsibility for managing Twin Buttes?   I don't see TPWD officers hauling plastic bags full of used diapers, needles or oil filters.  I don't see them cleaning up dumped brush or trash left after a holiday weekend.

I'd like to know how officers will steer park users on toileting. The city received a $50,000 TPWD grant years ago to put in a new boat ramp and restrooms.  The boat ramp appeared but not the restrooms.

The city's silence on Twin Buttes covers multiple fronts.  There's been no discussion of plans for Twin Buttes in the city's 2016-2017 Strategic Planning/Budget sessions.

The city has long ignored their responsibilities to manage and maintain the park at Twin Buttes.  I'm grateful for an enforcement presence at Twin Buttes, but that can only do much to improve the park experience for local recreational users.  I look forward to seeing the permit program's impact and hearing the city's plans to deal with non-enforcement concerns, like sanitation and regular cleanup.

Update 9-18-16:  Still no word from the city on the change but the Standard Times ran a story about it on Labor Day/

TPWD Public Hunting at Twin Buttes

Twin Buttes Reservoir is divided into seven zones for public hunting purposes.  The above map has been available on the City of San Angelo's website for quite some time.  The city recently added a new map, pictured below.

Hunting is not allowed in the park area on the north shore of the North Pool or in Zone 7.  Dove hunters may be out in force Labor Day weekend.  I expect many fishermen and recreational users to celebrate the holiday weekend at Twin Buttes.  Everybody enjoy, but be safe!

Twin Buttes Public Hunting Program Incorporates Nasworthy Areas

The map above shows the area the city leased to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Public Hunting Program, which starts September 1, 2016.  Closer examination shows several areas citizens use on the Lake Nasworthy side of the dam.

Being a water user I am not familiar with the dry side of the dam, areas commonly used by bikers and runners.  There is no information on the city's website yet, but the map and MOU are in the City Council background packet from 4-19-16.

Those interested in this information can click this link.  Look for the "Download Packet" in the upper left hand portion of the screen.  Clink on Download Packet to get the material, which starts on page 115.

Look for Bill Cullins' column on this development in this Saturday's Standard Times.

Entry Permit Requirement Starts September 1st

The City of San Angelo is yet to inform the public of their need to purchase a permit to use Twin Buttes Reservoir for any purpose starting September 1st.  The notice is on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website and nowhere else.  The only reason I knew was local outdoor sports columnist Bill Cullins gave me a head's up.  It is the subject of his upcoming column in the Standard Times.

Having already received one ticket for paddle boarding without a personal flotation device (while standing on a 220 liter personal flotation device), I chose to buy my $12 limited use pass before our upcoming Labor Day weekend.  I purchased the $12 pass online for $17.

The City's Lake Parks and Lake Operations web pages only reference hunting at Twin Buttes.  Here's the language:

Hunters should follow state hunting regulations as prescribed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The TPWD website's hunting page can be found at this link.

There is no information on the requirement that recreational users or people wanting to see the water level after a rain buy an annual permit starting Thursday, September 1st.

The City created this program alongside the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and TPWD.  Labor Day weekend begins September 2nd, the day after the new program goes into effect.  The City has a press release on offices being closed on Labor Day but no information on the new permit required four days before the official holiday.

Citizens can't buy what they don't know.  I was surprised to learn the $12 permit cost $17.  It'll be worth it if TPWD officers can reduce or eliminate the bad behavior that occurs at both pools.

Update 9-1-16:  San Angelo Live ran a piece on the new Public Hunting Program.

Evaporation Toll

It's been toasty lately with a string of days over 100 degrees.  Weather forecasters call for the oppressive heat to break this weekend and for rain chances to increase. 

I'm praying for God to bless us with healing rains and am grateful that the South Pool continues sending water to the North via the Equalization Channel. 

North Pool Drops

Twin Buttes North Pool is down a half foot this past week.  The South Pool remains high enough for water to flow through the Equalization Channel, a rarity this late in July.  The picture below was taken July 5th.  Current flow is less than pictured below but still remarkably healthy.

For the first time in weeks our area has a reasonable chance of rain.  I pray that God blesses us with healing rains.  

Fireworks Trash Returns to Twin Buttes

After last year's reprieve fireworks trash returned to the city maintained park at Twin Buttes Reservoir's North Pool.  The park was formerly known as Marina Park, but the marina and camper hookups are long gone.

The trash came back at levels much less than two years ago.

Most of the trash is near a receptacle, but some is by the water.

Should the lake keep rising shoreline trash could become a water hazard.

Overall Twin Buttes avoided its historical 4th of July trash explosion.  Hopefully,  city crews will have the trash cleaned up in the next week or two. 

Bad Omen: Fireworks OK Outside City Limits

The Standard Times reported:

Thanks to recent rains, Tom Green County officials decided to keep the burn ban lifted for the Fourth of July weekend. As a result, residents will be able to set off fireworks outside the city limits and on private property.

To date the City has been silent on fireworks at Twin Buttes Reservoir.   Last year they told the public not to come to the Marina park and had a police cruiser at the turn off the Mertzon highway inspecting vehicles for banned fireworks. 

The Bureau of Reclamation, which owns Twin Buttes Reservoir, does not allow fireworks period.  With the paper steering citizens outside city limits Twin Buttes may once again be abused.  I'm sure the park and lake appreciated the break from its annual trashing.

I'm hopeful the city will take action to prevent the widespread trashing of one natural resource.  Their silence to date has me concerned.  Look for a report here on the status of fireworks trash at Twin Buttes. 

Local Lakes Rise from Rains

Twin Buttes Reservoir is up a half foot since yesterday.  Normally by now the Equalization Channel is dry.  It's running like April.

O.C. Fischer is up nearly the same amount (.4 feet) and Lake Nasworthy rose .43 feet.  Here's the volume of water each body of water added:

Twin Buttes North Pool - 750 acre feet
O.C. Fischer - 550 acre feet
Lake Nasworthy - 525 acre feet 

That increases our local water supply by at least a month.  Each rise is a blessing.

Update 6-29-16:  Lake Ivie rose 1,200 acre feet.

Twin Buttes Steady Riser

This morning's storms are over Twin Buttes watershed and any runoff should help the South Concho River. which feeds the South Pool.  Currently water is flowing from the South Pool to the North Pool through the Equalization Channel. 

Since December 2015 Twin Buttes North Pool is up seven feet to nearly 21,000 acre feet.  That's an increase of over 8,000 acre feet from six months ago.  These numbers do not include the South Pool which has another 6,000 acre feet of water.  We are blessed with each and every increase.

Ivie Up 65,500 Acre Feet

In late April Lake O.H. Ivie held roughly 66,900 acre feet of water.  As of today Ivie's volume is 132,400 acre feet.  Ivie nearly doubled in seven weeks.  That blessing is good news for San Angelo water users and those of who recreate on area lakes.

Update 6-10-16:  Ivie is at 133,600 acre feet.   It's a hair away from a 100% increase.

Update 6-12-16:  Ivie is at 133,900 acre feet.  It's more than DOUBLED! 

More Water Headed to Ivie

Lake O. H.Ivie is up nearly 40,000 acre feet since San Angelo declared Drought Level I water restrictions. It rose 25,000 acre feet in the last week with more to come. 

May the blessing continue!

Twin Buttes North Pool Up Foot

Over the last week Twin Buttes North Pool rose a foot.  The South Pool is much higher and South Concho River volume ensures water will continue to flow through the Equalization Channel.  The North Pool has a long way to go before the two pools equalize but it's happened before.  Pray for rain!

Ivie Rising

O.H. Ivie rose 22,000 acre feet since the City of San Angelo declared Drought Level 1 conditions several months ago.  That's a 33% increase.

The increase came from a series of runoff rains which can be seen below.

Our area is currently under a flash flood watch so there may be more runoff for Ivie and area lakes.

Update 6-1-16: Stephen Brown noted same in Standard Times today.  Ivie holds nearly 95,000 acre feet with more runoff to come.

Update 6-2-16: Ivie is closing in on 100,000 acre feet.  It's currently at 98,190. 

Later on 6-2-16: It;s at 101,000 acre feet and the evening's young!

Tonic for Twin Buttes?

The ground is saturated from several days of rain.  Our area is under a flash flood watch until Thursday afternoon.  Might this be a boon for area lakes?  That's my prayer.

Update 5-21-16:  Twin Buttes is up a half foot to 1899.75 ft elevation.

Update 5-22-16:  Below is a picture of the runoff from the South Concho River which feeds Twin Buttes South Pool:

South Pool Feeding North

The South Pool sits at elevation 1928.3 feet, the highest it's been since the May 2014 flooding event.  Two years ago water gushed through the area pictured below.

I shot these pictures this morning.  The last time I visited the South Pool this area was dry.  Below is the pad area where the city placed pumps to move water when the Equalization Channel was not flowing.

According to a fisherman a rattlesnake was on the pad.  I didn't see or hear it.  Wearing shorts I did not want to take any chances.  Our area has several more rain chances the next two weeks.  Pray for rain.  Our lakes need it, especially the North Pool which sits nearly thirty feet lower in elevation than a brimming South Pool.

Rain Falls in South Pool Watershed

The NWS issued a flood advisory for storms that dumped rain for hours south of Twin Buttes Reservoir.  South Concho River flow has more than doubled to 55 cubic feet per second as of 9:45 pm.  Even though it's coming into Twin Buttes South Pool water will flow to the North Pool via the Equalization Channel.  We'll see how much it adds to Twin Buttes, but it could be a nice boost to our local water supplies. 

Lake Ivie Up 8,500 Acre Feet: Reduces Pressure on Twin Buttes

Since San Angelo's City Council declared Drought Level I restrictions most area lakes received beneficial runoff rains.  Lake Nasworthy went from 8,010 acre feet to 8,529, an increase of over 500 acre feet.

Lake Ivie went from 66,866 acre feet to 75,410.  That's 8,500 acre feet higher from beneficial rains. Add Twin Buttes North Pool rise of 1,570 acre feet (from 15,410 to 16,987 acre feet) and the City has over seven additional months of water.   In addition Twin Buttes South Pool holds roughly 6,000 acre feet

Staff went to City Council with a very conservative "26 months of water" left.  That's now 33 months.  This is a blessing for our community.  We'll see when Council reconsiders their Drought Level 1 designation.

Update 4-24-16:  As of this morning Ivie holds 75,700 acre feet of water.

Update 4-26-16:  Ivie is now up nearly 10,000 acre feet with storms in the area. 

Twin Buttes Up Nearly 3 Feet

Twin Buttes Reservoir's North Pool is up nearly three feet from December levels. This is due to steady flow from the South Concho River and two creeks, Dove Creek and Spring Creek. Twin Buttes is the only lake in the city's water supply arsenal to rise over this period. Weather predictions call for a wet weekend with potential runoff.

The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement:

HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND ACROSS MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL TEXAS...

A POTENT UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM WILL APPROACH WEST CENTRAL TEXAS THIS WEEKEND... BRINGING WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.  WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW... 

1. THE MOST WIDESPREAD AND HEAVIEST RAINFALL IS MOST LIKELY SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. 

2. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE LIKELY... WITH TOTALS OVER 4 INCHES POSSIBLE IN SOME LOCATIONS. 

3. WITH SOILS STILL WET FROM THE RAIN ON TUESDAY... RAINFALL THIS WEEKEND SHOULD QUICKLY SATURATE THE SOIL. FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS... LOW WATER CROSSINGS... AND OTHER POOR DRAINAGE AREAS WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL. 

IN ADDITION... ALTHOUGH THE HEAVY RAINFALL IS THE GREATEST THREAT... A FEW STORMS REACHING SEVERE LEVELS CAN NOT BE RULED OUT. THE STORM SYSTEM WILL BE SLOW TO MOVE... SO SOME CHANCE OF RAIN WILL LINGER WELL INTO NEXT WEEK. RESIDENTS OF WEST CENTRAL TEXAS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR A VERY WET WEEKEND. 

A blessing may be on its way.

Twin Buttes to Get Runoff

The National Weather Service issued a Flood Advisory until 6:00 am.  It included the following:

AT 253 AM CST... DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED HEAVY RAIN DUE TO THUNDERSTORMS. THIS WILL CAUSE URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING IN THE ADVISORY AREA. BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS MUCH OF THE WARNED AREA AND AN ADDITIONAL ONE HALF TO ONE INCH IS POSSIBLE. MINOR FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY ACROSS ROADWAYS... LOW WATER CROSSING AND LOW LYING AREAS. 

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE... SAN ANGELO... CHRISTOVAL... WALL... KNICKERBOCKER... TANKERSLEY... VERIBEST... GRAPE CREEK... US-67 NEAR THE IRION- TOM GREEN COUNTY LINE AND HARRIET. 

The South Concho runs through Christoval.  The Equalization Channel will flow harder with any runoff.  The North Pool is fed by flooding at US-67 near the Irion-Tom Green County line.

From my look at the radar there is potential for training from the line of thunderstorms.  It could be a real runoff event, but we'll take anything the Lord provides.

Rain Hits Concho Valley

The Equalization Channel at Twin Buttes Reservoir had already been flowing before storms hit the region this evening.  We shall see how much runoff makes its way into Twin Buttes North and South Pools.