U.S. Water News Online
WACO, Texas -- Improved farming techniques appear to have
significantly
reduced sedimentation rates in the Brazos River Basin of central
Texas,
resulting in an additional 40,000 acre feet to the region's long-term
water
supply.
"It's like adding three new small lakes to our water supply
system," said
Wayne Hughes, general manager of the Brazos River Authority.
Sedimentation
surveys, utilizing satellite imagery and sonar technology, recently
have
determined that several reservoirs in the basin are receiving less
sediment
than was predicted by previous engineering studies. The amount of
water
afforded by each reservoir gradually is reduced over the years as the
amount
of naturally occurring sediments increases. When a water supply
project is
designed, the rate of sedimentation is estimated as causing a direct
impact
on the amount of water afforded by an individual water supply
reservoir. Each
reservoir accumulates sediment at a different rate.
"Improved farming techniques, converting row crops to grazing
pastures, and
constructing soil conservation storage reservoirs throughout the
basin appear
to have significantly reduced sedimentation rates in the basin," said
Hughes.
At the same time, computerized surveys have enabled the authority to
maintain
closer estimates of the available water supplies, he added.
Return to the U.S. Water News' past archives page
Or
Return to the U.S. Water News Homepage
uswatrnews@aol.com