LCRA cutting off water to Matagorda Bay (Austin, Kingsland: health, places)

[G Grasshopper]

Personally, I would rather see us go to level 3 conservation rather than having the bay affected. At this time of year, it is likely that we will get little rains that will keep lawns limping along anyway. A major cut in fresh water would cause a change in salinity, which can have big impacts on the plants and animals in estuaries. It is valid to ask what would naturally happen if there were no dams. My assumption is that the rivers would be running very low and there would be a decrease but not elimination of fresh water into the brackish systems. So there would be some impact. It would take an estuary biologist to evaluate the difference between what would have happened and what may happen with current water management. One thing that I don't know is whether decreased fresh water flows have to potential to endanger species which are already under threat.

[ScoPro]

I agree with Komeht and Grasshopper.

Why wait to go to stage 3?

Plus, all Central Texas cities & towns should look at what conservation measures Las Vegas has been employing for decades.

Not to mention those worthless vermin in the State Capitol failing to start long term planning for a realistic water plan.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

Hurricanes usual dump a lot of rain water on the region so it flushes out the salt water the comes with the storm surge. I have seen the waterlevel at the docks on Aransas Bay rise a good 6' or more during a tropical depression.

Most of the shore around Matagorda Bay is not heavily developed, there are several small town but little that I would call prime real estate. Alcoa Aluminum does have a large plant on one shore. The water is quite muddy from all the silt the river washes downstream into it. But oysters, shrimp and the sea birds seem to like that just fine. It is more then Matagorda Bay that relies on the fresh water the feeds into the Laguna Madre, there is a whole string of bays connected together that line the entire Texas coast. The Aransas Wildlife Refuge a short distance West of Matagorda Bay probably gets most of its fresh water mix from Matagorda bay. Aransas Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest protected bird habitates in the USA, thousands of species, including the only surviving flock of endangered whooping crane.

Thanks for shedding some light on the issue. I jump to conclusions and make knee-jerk assumptions. Thankfully after that I can learn a bit more.

[Trainwreck20]

I would rather see us go to level 3 conservation rather than having the bay affected.

At this time of year, Stage III doesn't save much water at all - most of the grass watering is done. Even during the summer, the amount of water saved by going from stage II to III is probably only a fraction of what is sent to the Bay; however, I would like to see an actual comparison.

[gpurcell]

Nothing the City of Austin does will save significant amounts of water. If the rice farmers aren't cut off, all the lawns in Austin could die and it wouldn't make a bit of difference.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by gpurcell

Nothing the City of Austin does will save significant amounts of water. If the rice farmers aren't cut off, all the lawns in Austin could die and it wouldn't make a bit of difference.

Most of the rice farmers have been cut off for two years.

[gpurcell]

Yes, a year too late.

[sxrckr]

That's unfortunate.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

How about when a hurricane comes in, a tidal wave, a storm surge that pushes all that salt water back into the fresh/salt water mix? Is that any different than what is purposed?

Really? They're going to debate whether or not to protects crabs or people? It's a drought! Something has to give.

Lastly, stop calling it the Colorado River Authority...it's the "Texas River". The Texas River begins in Texas, stops in Texas, must belong in Texas and not the Bay.

With global warming the sea is eventually going to rise anyway...so all that salt water is going to stay salt water.

I haven't been to the Matagorda Bay...is it prime real estate? Do they live on the Bay? Is that fresh water at their doorstop and are their boats going in and out of the Bay? Whats the real issue here? Yeah, I bet they really care about those crabs.

Take it up with the Spanish!

[Gorfml]

Looks like a major rain event going on ATM...too far west? If not, problem solved...