Lucas Oil Bails Out of Drag Boat Races

Lucas Oil announced the cancellation of its drag boat racing series after a nine year run.  San Angelo hosted a drag boat race at Lake Nasworthy for over a decade   The race could continue outside Lucas Oil sponsorship.

Update 12-8-18:  City Council will discuss the boat race on 12-8-18 in Executive Session.

Update 12-28-18:  The City can consult Marble Falls which lost its 26 year drag boat race in 2018.

Twin Buttes Equalized

The North and South Pools at Twin Buttes Reservoir equalized this past week.  Concho Valley Homepage had it happening at 1926.5 feet elevation which occurred on October 28th.  

I thought it might happen at 1927 feet, a level I had seen the South Pool when it had some flow into the North Pool.   The twin pools hit 1927 feet at the stroke of midnight on Halloween. 

The lake is up another third of a foot since then and the two pools hold over 100,000 acre feet.  It's an absolute blessing.

Update for Water Advisory Board

I took the liberty of updating a water supply slide from last month's Water Advisory Board meeting.  We have been blessed with significant runoff rains.  For this I am grateful.

North and South Pools to Equalize with Less than Two Foot Rise

If the North Pool at Twin Buttes Reservoir increases 1.7 feet it will be level with the South Pool.  This hasn't happened in my 25 years living in San Angelo.  I've windsurfed and paddle-boarded both pools but never have been able to go between the pools (other than by land).

Our recent water level rise has been historic.  Early September 2018 pool levels were similar to those pictured here from 2012.  The North Pool is up over 32 feet since mid September.

The irony is the City of San Angelo just thumbed Tom Green County farmers who have significant water rights to Twin Buttes.  It will interesting to see if farmers chose to ignore city effluent in favor of Twin Buttes lake water.

Update 10-28-18:  The Standard Times ran a story on wastewater reuse.  It did not mention the city deal with local farmers to take effluent in place of water from Twin Buttes.

Update 10-29-18:  Concho Valley Homepage picked up the equalization story.   They said the pools equalized at 1926.50 ft elevation.  From prior readings of the South Pool the target I used was 1927 ft elevation.  What's a half foot between friends?   

Massive Runoff into Twin Buttes and Lake Ivie

Twin Buttes North Pool rose over 14 feet, adding at least 30,000 acre feet to San Angelo's water supplies.

 The North Pool only has to increase 6 more feet for the pools to equalize.  That hasn't happened for a long time.

Lake Ivie did even better with a 48,000 acre foot increase.

Blessings from heaven.  Lord, keep everyone safe in the midst of all this.

Update 10-19-18:  Twin Buttes holds roughly 80,000 acre feet of water between the two pools.

Update 10-21-18:  It now holds over 90,000 acre feet between the two pools.  Lake Ivie has double this amount with 185,600 acre feet and Lake Spence 113,300 acre feet (with no functioning pipeline to supply the city water).

Twin Buttes Tributaries Flowing

The North Pool at Twin Buttes Reservoir rose over five feet in the last week and seventeen feet in the last month.  All four tributaries contributed to today's rapid increase but the South Concho River topped the list.

Yes, it does flow into the South Pool, no longer in dead pool status.  The water runs through the Equalization Channel into the North Pool.  The next biggest contributor was Dove Creek.

The Middle Concho River, long high and dry, did its part to raise the North Pool:

Thank heaven for the rain.  May it raise our lakes in a manner that keeps people safe. 

Update 10-17-18:  The South Concho flowed at 19,000 cubic feet per second as of 22:45 this evening.  Twin Buttes North Pool is up another foot to 1911.71.  

North Pool Up 11 Feet

Twin Buttes North Pool continues to rise, up over 11 feet in the last week.  Between the two pools Twin Buttes holds over 31,000 acre feet.  That's nearly 2.5 years of water supply without the draconian evaporation deduction used by city staff.  Thank heaven for the rains and runoff!

Twin Buttes Up Ten Feet

Twin Buttes Reservoir's North Pool is ten feet higher from last week's rain.  The added water, over  12,000 acre feet, is nearly a year's worth of San Angelo's water usage of 13,441 acre feet.

Lake E. V. Spence rose over 5,000 acre feet and O. H. Ivie over 2,000 acre feet.  The Water Advisory Board meets this morning and will get to hear about these major blessings.

Update:  SanAngeloLive picked up on the Twin Buttes runoff story this morning.  The Standard Times did likewise but their story is not linkable without a paid subscription.

Update 9-25-18:  The North Pool is now up over 10.5 feet and holds over 29,500 acre feet between the two pools, North and South.  The Water Advisory Board heard about the increase in the North Pool.  City staff provided no data on the South Pool.

North Pool Doubles

 The North Pool is up over 8.5 feet the last two days and still rising.  Last month the North Pool at Twin Buttes Reservoir held 10,200 acre feet.  This morning it hit 20,400 acre feet with the Middle Concho River and Spring Creek still flowing.

At 7:15 this morning the Middle Concho flowed at roughly 1,000 cubic feet per second. Spring Creek helped as well.

Every tributary contributed to the North Pool doubling.  Great news, just in time for the Water Advisory Board meeting tomorrow morning.  Thank heaven for the heavy widespread rains that blessed Twin Buttes with significant runoff! 

North Pool Up Over 5.5 Feet with More to Come

Twin Buttes Reservoir continues to rise from recent rains.  The Middle Concho River flow is the big contributor at the moment with over 4,600 cubic feet of water per second.  At 8:00 pm the North Pool is up over 5.5 feet.  By 9:00 pm this evening it had risen over 6 feet.

The South Concho flowed at greater volumes yesterday but is still contributing to the North Pool's rise via the Equalization Channel.

It appears the South Concho River gauge above Twin Buttes went out after 6:00 pm yesterday.  There has not been a reading posted since that time.

How much water have we been blessed with at Twin Buttes?  Already it is a significant amount.

Update:  At 11:00 pm the North Pool is up over 6.5 feet with more to come.  The Middle Concho River flowed at over 3,000 cubic feet per second at its last reading today.

Major Runoff Headed to Twin Buttes

Today's rain produced significant runoff for three of Twin Buttes tributaries, the South Concho River, Dove Creek and the Middle Concho River.  The South Concho went from 1,400 cubic feet per second this afternoon to ten times that amount after early evening rains.

Dove Creek flowed at 1,800 cubic feet per second this afternoon, a rate close to its flow several weeks ago.

Even the Middle Concho River produced runoff this afternoon at 1,550 cubic feet per second. 

An added bonus is water from a rising Spring Creek.  Between these four tributaries Twin Buttes should rise significantly.

Update:  San Angelo Live reported on this development.  The North Pool is up nearly 3.5 feet as of 2:00 pm.

Heavy Rain in Watershed

Heavy rains are falling in the Twin Buttes Reservoir this morning.  The National Weather Service issued an Area Flood Advisory until 9:00 am and a Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 7:00 am Saturday. 

The North Pool is up nearly two feet from previous rains this month.

The South Pool has roughly 6,000 acre feet and water is flowing through the Equalization Channel into the North Pool. 

This morning's rain is a blessing that will help area lakes.

Public Meeting on Twin Buttes Transportation Management Plan

The Bureau of Reclamation will give the public an opportunity for comment on the Twin Buttes Transportation Management Plan from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 25th at the McNease Convention Center.  The Bureau contracts with the City of San Angelo for maintenance of Twin Buttes.  The City partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife to manage the public hunting/recreation program at Twin Buttes.

I recommend any user of Twin Buttes to drop by the meeting or e-mail your comments to the Bureau.  It's important for recreational users voices to be heard.  The Draft Transportation Management plan can be viewed by clicking here.

I e-mailed my desires for continued shore access to launch windsurfers on the North Shore of both the South and North Pools to the Bureau at the e-mail address provided - twinbuttestmp@fs.fed.us.

Update 9-25-18:  SanAngeloLive ran a story on the public meetings for Twin Buttes Transportation Plan.

Runoff Rains Hit Concho Valley

The South Concho River benefited from today's rain and will flow into Twin Buttes Reservoir's South Pool.  The North Pool will increase due to a swollen Dove Creek.

Lake Ivie is up with lots more water to come courtesy of the Colorado and Concho Rivers.

It will take a few days for this runoff to reach Ivie.  Hopefully it will be enough to end the City's drought price increases for water customers.

Thank the Lord for the blessings we have received.

Update 9-13-18:  Concho Valley Homepage ran a piece on runoff and its impact on local lake levels.

Update 9-15-18:  Area lakes should benefit from today's runoff rains.  A flood advisory is in effect until midnight and a flash flood advisory until 7:00 am tomorrow.

City Recommends Barco for Twin Buttes Pumping

On 9-4-18 San Angelo City Council will consider hiring Barco Pump for moving water from Twin Buttes into Lake Nasworthy.  The item is slated for the Consent Agenda, meaning no presentation or discussion.  Should pumps be required at the South Pool the monthly cost is $74,400 with setup costs of $42,500 and take-down fees of roughly $23,900. 

Council will approve this expenditure as our weather shifts to a wetter pattern.  Significant runoff rains have occurred in September/October.  Pray for rain, the lake filling kind.

City Solicits Bids for Twin Buttes Pumping

The City of San Angelo issue an RFP for Lake Pumping systems at Twin Buttes for both the North and South Pools.  Recent rains increased the North Pool by one third of a foot.  September can bring rain and significant runoff could delay the need for pumps. 

Gajeske provided pumps for the last two Twin Buttes pumping operations.  They did not attend the pre-bid meeting on August 3rd.  Odessa Pumps and Barco pump did attend. 

City Council will entertain pumping but it is not on the August 21, 2018 agenda.

Ivie Up 3,000 Acre Feet

 

Lake Ivie rose 3,000 acre feet after last weekend's rain.  Lake E.V. Spence was the big beneficiary of runoff rising over 8.500 acre feet.   

Ivie to Get Runoff

Lake Ivie is fed by the Concho and Colorado Rivers and both are running as a result of today's rain.  The South Concho at Christoval is flowing at 37 cubic feet per second.  Its flow will benefit the South Pool at Twin Buttes.  We are grateful for today's blessing and pray for water for our lakes.

Update 8-13-18:   The water made it to Paint Rock.  Last Concho River reading showed 252 cubic feet per second of flow.  Next stop Lake Ivie!

Heat Taking Toll on Water Levels

Twin Buttes North Pool is down five feet in two months.  The South Pool no longer flows into the North. 

I found the Equalization Channel dry in late June. 

This tends to be the brutal time of year for area lakes.  Record heat is predicted for the next three days.  Stay cool and pray for rain.

Twin Buttes Up Nearly 2 Feet

The North Pool at Twin Buttes rose nearly two feet from recent rains.  That could go higher with more runoff rain in the watershed.

Runoff Rain in Concho Valley

Heavy rain is currently falling in the watershed for area lakes.  A flash flood warning is in effect until 10:30 pm.  It could be a difference maker for San Angelo's surface water supplies and area water enthusiasts.  May we be blessed with life giving rains and that everyone remains safe.

Update 5-15-18:   Another evening of flash flood rains in the watershed.  The South Concho in Christoval is flowing at 200 cubic feet per second, up from 20-30.  The Middle Concho ran at nearly 6000 cubic feet for second, reaching a height of seventeen feet.  The North Concho at Grape Creek briefly flowed at 800 cubic feet per second. 

South Pool 30 Feet Higher than North

The Equalization Channel has a healthy flow but not enough to keep the North Pool at a steady level.   The South Pool sits at 1927.6 feet in elevation according to an elevation marker.

The North Pool's last reading was 1896.72.  That's a difference of 30 feet. 

South Pool:

North Pool:

Both pools remain viable for windsurfing and paddle boarding.  The water is warm enough to do either without neoprene.  I hope to be out on the water again soon.