Brush control along Pecos and Rio Grande saves water
Herbicide treatments to saltcedar along the Pecos River may have saved five billion gallons of water, enough to supply the city of El Paso for two months, according to estimates from a project managed by Texas Cooperative Extension.
Saltcedar, a shrub planted along the Pecos River in 1925 to reduce soil erosion, is now known for its excessive water use. Since its introduction, saltcedar has dominated native vegetation along the river’s banks and become one of the most prevalent water-loving plant in Texas.
Dr. Charles Hart, associate professor and Extension range specialist in Fort Stockton, Texas, and Dr. Larry White, professor and Extension range specialist in College Station, Texas, are using groundwater-monitoring wells to measure saltcedar water use. Their studies show that each acre of saltcedar uses about 18 million gallons of water per year – resulting in a potential five billion gallons in water savings from treatment to the Pecos River banks.
Hart said developing and communicating saltcedar control methods that conserve water are among the objectives of the Rio Grande Basin Initiative (RGBI), which is administered in Texas by the Texas Water Resources Institute. A joint effort of the Texas A&M University System Agriculture Program and the New Mexico State University College of Agriculture and Home Economics, the RGBI is focused on research and Extension activities to facilitate efficient irrigation for water conservation.
Because the Pecos River flows into the Rio Grande, current activities to control saltcedar are already allowing more water into the river. However, Hart said funds from the Initiative will allow for an increased emphasis on the Rio Grande this year.
Two groundwater-monitoring well sites are being established on the Rio Grande to begin measuring the shrub’s water use. These wells, like those on the Pecos River, constantly measure changes in water depth and will help Hart calculate water use before beginning saltcedar treatment.
Collaborators in the projects along the Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers include the International Boundary and Water Commission, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas General Land Office, Red Bluff Water and Power Control District, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, and the Upper Pecos Soil and Water Conservation District.
