North Pool Up Ten Feet

What a difference a year makes.  The San Angelo forecast has high rain chances the next few days and the possibility of one to two inches of rain.  Such a blessing!

Twin Buttes New Year

I paddle boarded at the North Pool yesterday afternoon.  The banks of the Middle Concho are well under water in front of Diaper Beach.  There's brush and logs to avoid but it's wonderful seeing a wider expanse of water in the western portion of the North Pool.  The elevation as of 1-1-17 was 1904.63.  That's eight feet higher than January 1 of last year.  I am grateful for our blessings of rain and for the beauty of God's creation.

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!