The South Llano Paddling Trail Launch, April 14th

Submitted by the Partners of the SLPT

 The South Llano River is often called "our river" by local residents. Why? Because we grew up living near it, swimming, fishing, and paddling in it, having family and social gatherings along its banks, and drinking its waters. True, its waters belong to the state of Texas and the public, but we also call it "our river" because no others appreciate its beauty and care about it as we do. As more of the public discovers the South Llano River, those who already know of its value, want to help others share in the preservation of this treasure, while respecting those who live along it.

On Saturday, April 14th, the South Llano Paddling Trail, starting at the South Llano River State Park and ending at the Junction City Park, officially opens. On that day, in conjunction with the Kimble County Wise Living Event, the partners of the SLPT will hold an official launch and river clean up to celebrate the beauty of the South Llano River. The opening of the paddling trail will help the public learn to enjoy, protect, and respect the river.

Anyone who would like to participate in the launch should gather at the Junction City Park below the bridge near the old rock wall and boat ramp at 8:00 am on April 14th. Canoes and kayaks will be furnished for participants by Fun In the Sun Canoes, South Canoes & Kayaks, and the TTU Center.

At 8:30 am there will be a ceremony and overview of the paddling trail. After the ceremony all participants will be shuttled in outfitters' vans to the South Llano River State Park for the official launch and ribbon cutting. (Outfitters have park permits). Any participants using their own boats are responsible for their own park permits and shuttling.

The official South Llano Paddling Trail launch will begin with a ribbon cutting at the state park bridge at approximately 9:30 am. Participants will then paddle down river to the Junction City Park collecting litter and trash along the way. "Up to You" river trash bags will be provided by the Junction Tourism Board. At the city park, the litter and trash will be separated into recyclables and non-recyclables. All participants are asked to practice and exhibit proper boating safety (PDF's), behavior, respect private property, and to provide their own drinking water.

The South Llano Paddling Trail partners are the City of Junction, Kimble County, Texas Tech University at Junction, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the South Llano Watershed Alliance. For more information contact Scott Richardson at 325-475-2271.

Agenda

SLWA Membership Meeting and Program

9:00 am – 12:00

• Coffee social

• Introduction and welcome (9:15 am)

• Overview of agenda

• Updates on SLWA activities since June 2011
  1. June membership meeting
  2. Texas Paddling Trails
  3. Oasis Fire workshop
  4. Upper Llano Watershed Conservation Plan (Tyson Broad)
  5. Preliminary Watermaster Evaluation for the Colorado River Basin (Tyson Broad)
  6. Upper Llano Watershed Protection Plan (Tom Arsuffi)

• SLWA updates
  1. Treasury report
  2. Membership for 2011
  3. Membership renewal
  4. Proposed 2012 events

• Gradient Boundary Presentation (10:00 am)
  1. Background information
  2. Outside river bank demonstration

The annual outing to Seven Hundred Springs will be Saturday morning, March 10.  As in past years, we will meet at the Courthouse in Junction, and the motorcade will leave at 10:00 o’clock for the 21-mile trip to the Pfluger’s 700 Springs ranch on the South Llano River between Junction and Rocksprings.  Participants do not need to make advance reservations but must sign the register upon arriving in Junction.  There is no charge for the event, but goodwill donations are accepted for our Kimble County Museum Building Fund.  Bring a sack lunch and folding chair, if possible.  It is always cool at the Springs so a sweater or light wrap is helpful.  Cameras are o.k., but no fishing gear or metal detectors are permitted.  I hope you can be there!  We usually depart from  the Springs area around 2:00 p.m.

River Boundary Divides Private and Public Ownership

Submitted by the South Llano Watershed Alliance

Where is the boundary line that divides public ownership from private ownership along a river in Texas? Did you know that the line is called the "gradient boundary?" Its concept was developed in a U.S. Supreme Court case involving the boundary between Oklahoma and Texas along the south bank of the Red River. Surveying the gradient boundary is a complex task performable only by specially trained persons. However, with a little "on the ground training" of how to recognize this boundary line, much conflict might be avoided between landowners and the public along rivers.

To become better informed on how to recognize the approximate location of this often controversial boundary, mark your calendar for Saturday, March 3rd. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the TTU Center at Junction dinning hall, the South Llano Watershed Alliance will host its first membership meeting and program for 2012. A brief SLWA update for members will be followed by a nontechnical program on the "gradient boundary" for the public. In addition to landowners along rivers and the general public, law enforcement officers are encouraged to attend. The morning will begin with a coffee social and be finished by noon.

The speaker will be Ben Thomson of Junction. Ben is a Registered Public Land Surveyor, a  Licensed State Land Surveyor, and a Licensed Professional Engineer. He is an emeritus member of the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying and a retired Senior Surveyor of the Texas General Land Office. In addition to his credentials he has more than once served as an expert witness in court cases involving the gradient boundary.

Following a brief introduction and overview of the gradient boundary, Ben will take the group outdoors and use part the South Llano River bank along the TTU campus to help illustrate examples of the approximate location of the boundary. Appropriate clothing and shoes for the day's weather is recommended.   

 During the membership meeting part of the program, a brief update will be SLWA activities since the last membership meeting in June, 2011. Topics covered include the Oasis Fire Recovery Workshop, the TPWD Guadalupe Bass Initiative, the development and opening of the South Llano Paddling Trail, and most recently, the awarding of the EPA Healthy Watersheds/TSSWCB grant. 

For further information contact Scott Richardson at 325-475-2271, scottr@ctesc.net, or visit www.southllano.org

City Council meets on water proposals

     by James Murr

      The Junction Eagle,

     January 18, 2011

On January 16 the City Council held a called meeting to be briefed on two proposals related to the city’s water resources.  The meeting was for informational purposes only.  Accordingly, no action was proposed or taken on the proposals.

The first proposal was made by Chance Warrick of Alpha Reclaim Technology (ART), LLC, in Bryan, Texas.  ART is interested in purchasing treated wastewater (effluent) from the city.  According to a submission from ART, the firm is a small water supply service company that purchases effluent and sells it to customers for uses that do not require high purity water.  These uses include oil and gas production (e.g., for fracking), thermo electric power generation, and agricultural production.

ART stated its proposal would bring economic development through the creation of jobs and stimulation of the local economy through ART’s customers and transporters doing business in the area.  The transport of water by pipeline could also be considered.  The city would receive cash payments for the sale of the effluent.  If ART purchased the entire amount of the city’s treated wastewater during a year, the city could receive payment in the vicinity of $70,000 to $80,000 annually.  The city’s wastewater treatment plant currently discharges around 130,000 gallons daily into the Llano River pursuant to the terms of a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

The second proposal was made by Eric Schiebe of Schiebe Consulting, LLC.  It concerns water conservation planning along the Llano River between Junction and the City of Llano that could potentially be funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation.  The purpose of the proposal is to help minimize or avoid the water supply disruptions (e.g., the suspension of junior water rights) that occurred this past summer because of the drought. 

The Schiebe proposal has three components.  The first component would be to improve the understanding of the river’s baseline water flow as a way of helping to ensure that some of the water flowing through Junction will actually reach the City of Llano during times of extreme drought. The second component would be to modify the reservoir behind the city dam to hold more water back during a drought and release the water in a “pulse” sufficient to make it all the way to Llano.  This could involve, for example, dredging the reservoir.  The third component would explore storing water in a surface impoundment or in an aquifer to help conserve water during wet times for release during very dry conditions.

The audience reactions to the proposals were generally skeptical.  Overall, the feasibility of the projects was questioned (e.g., obtaining necessary approvals for multiple permits from the TCEQ).  Also, on the ART proposal, for example, concern was expressed about the decline in water that would flow downstream as a result of the project.    On the Schiebe proposal, concerns were expressed about its practicality (e.g., acquiring land for impounding water), as well as the potential adverse effects of storing treated water underground.  There appear to be a lot of questions that need to be answered before these proposals could be considered seriously.

The following individuals attended the meeting:  Dr. Tom Arsuffi, Tyson Broad, Finley DeGrafenried (City of Llano), Ben Heard, Jerry Kirby, County Judge Andrew Murr, Bill Nieman, Emily Nieman, Jan Nieman, Alice Schmidt, Paul Shukis, Nancy Watson (Congressman Mike Conaway’s staff), and Znobia Wooten.

Present for the called meeting were Mayor Larry Maddux  and Aldermen  James Gamble, Michael Miller, Hoyt Moss, and Olan Raley.   Aaron Bierschwale was absent.  The council’s regular monthly meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in the City Hall Meeting Room located at 102 N. 5^th Street.