Summer 2009 - Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority

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Tree-ring Studyby Joel Williamsto Shed Light on Major DroughtsThe Drought of Record, as the decade-long 1947-1957 Texasdrought is known, appears to be a regularly occurring event,according to a study of tree rings commissioned by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority.The goal of the study is to reconstruct the historic climate of Centraland South Central Texas using the tree-ring chronologies, said ToddVotteler, who is overseeing the study for GBRA.“The broad purpose is to tell us whether we are planning for the rightkind of droughts in the future,” he said.The fieldwork is being conducted by Dr. Malcolm Cleavelandwith the University of Arkansas Tree-Ring Lab, with help frommembers of the University of Texas Jackson Schoolof Geosciences.Trees produce annual growth rings that generally grow wideduring wet years and thin during dry years. This pattern can beread, and once that is done the tree-ring record can be comparedto Weather Service climatic data to find out the seasonalresponse of the trees. That yields valuable information about pastclimatic conditions.The data would be useful for water conservation and waterplanning in the region.The 1947-1957 Drought of Record is the basis for all Texaswater supply planning.“We hope to extend our knowledge of past climatic conditionsto 1,600 A.D., or if we are lucky, even earlier,” Votteler said.The target species is baldcypress, which can live to be wellover 1,000 years old under some conditions. Previous researchhas indicated that the region has experienced droughts overthe last several hundred years that are much more severe thananything experienced since officials started keeping rainfallrecords more than 100 years ago.Living trees are sampled with a forestry tool called anincrement borer. The sampling process removes a core fromthe living trees about the width of a pencil. This does not harmbaldcypress trees because their wood is naturally resistant to rotand the trees grow over the small hole within a short time.“This type of sampling has been conducted for decades and thelandowners can be reassured by the researchers that their treeswill not be harmed,” Votteler said.So far, they have been sampled sites on the San Bernard,Nueces, and Guadalupe rivers. In June, the team conductedsampling at Krause Springs near Spicewood.The study has found indications of droughts in the early 1700sand late 1800s that exceeded the Drought of Record in SouthCentral Texas, and a 1571-1580 drought exceeded the Drought ofRecord for the Edwards Plateau.Droughts similar to the Drought of Record appear to occur every 80to 100 years, on average.“That tells you what you’ve got to be prepared for,” said Votteler,adding that the study should be complete by spring of 2010.Baldcypress trees along the Guadalupe River.GBRA Photo Archives16
THE TRUSTGuadalupe-Blanco River Trust and Local CommunityForm Partnership to Conserve Park Land Officials of the Guadalupe-Blanco RiverTrust and the City of Martindale recentlysigned an agreement to preserve nearlytwo acres of land with river frontage along theSan Marcos River in Martindale. Fundraisingfor $50,000 to buy this prime 1.59 acre tractwill begin immediately.City of Martindale officials have beenconsidering the tract for new parkland -doubling the size of the existing Allen BatesPark. The larger park would provide anopportunity for Martindale residents to experience longer trails, moreriver front, as well as relax and play spaces.The partnership between the two entities provides severaladvantages for the community. As funds are raised for the landpurchase, the Trust would oversee the funds,explained Janaé Reneaud, the Trust’s interimexecutive director. “When the fundraising goalis reached, the funds would be redirected toMartindale officials to complete the purchase ofthe land.”Martindale City Administrator Jeff Caldwellsaid, “This arrangement works out well forus because donors can take advantage of taxdeductions available through the Trust.” Moreimportantly, he added, “Contributors will knowthat their gift is part of a project that will exist inPhoto by John Schmidt IIIperpetuity for future generations to enjoy.”Anyone interested in supporting the park project and the river isencouraged to contact Janaé Reneaud to make a donation, at (830)379-5822 or email jreneaud@gbrtrust.org.Trust Preserves 646 Acres in Guadalupe DeltaThe Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust (Trust) recently completeda new acquisition of more than 640 acres of wetlands that will bemanaged for key breeding areas, stop-over and wintering habitatsfor migratory birds in the Guadalupe River Delta. This section ofproperty will be called the Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust Hog andSchwing Bayous Preserve (Preserve).The Preserve permanently protects 4.35 miles of riparian streamsand is located in a key region where 147,377 acres of land areconserved. The addition of the Preserve will help create a corridorof conserved lands, benefit existing projects and promote futureenvironmental partnerships. The surrounding preserved landsare held by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), private landowners, and aconservation easement held by the Trust.The land acquisition was made possible through the efforts ofmany partners, including Union Carbide Corporation (a fully-ownedsubsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company), the assistance of aUSFWS grant through the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protectionand Restoration Act, and the Guadalupe-Blanco RiverAuthority (GBRA).17“This is a wonderful success for the region and the Trust,” saidJanaé Reneaud, interim executive director of the Trust. “We nowhave a lot of work to do, including developing partners to restore theland for benefit of the waterfowl and other wildlife that depend onthe wetland,” she added.Trust Chair Robert Thornton explained, “I watched this project fromits start with Todd Votteler and as it was handed over to Reneaud - ithas now come to fruition.“This is just another one of the many projects of the Trust withwhich GBRA is proud to be associated,” said Bill West, Jr., GBRAgeneral manager. “The partners felt this was a significant landacquisition in a sensitive area of wetlands that needed tobe protected.”The Trust is a charitable, non-profit 501(c)3 organization thatwas developed to conserve the land and water of the GuadalupeRiver watershed for its natural, recreational, scenic, historic andproductive value.
Page 6 and 7: Lab Director Earns Excellence Award
Page 8 and 9: GBRA Helps Organize Kyle Citizensto
Page 10 and 11: Governor Appoints Fair Oaks RanchBu
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Page 20 and 21: INSIDE GBRAGBRA Volunteers Make Imp
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Summer 2009 - Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority

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