The Blanco County Conservation Initiative held an educational presentation called “Drought Proof Texas” at The Gem of The Hills on April 22.
The presentation was given by Joseph “Pete” Van Dyck and drew a large crowd. Data on the history of the pattern of drought and flood in Texas, including the historic drought of the early 1950s and the 2015 Memorial Day Flood, was included in the presentation and gave attendees an overview of these cyclical natural events this region can experience. Described as “ineffective rainfall” floods are one of the most expensive natural disasters. Drought is often exacerbated by the loss of soil, also known as erosion, during flooding events as well so the cycle repeats and worsens over time.
Solutions for “drought proofing” can be distilled down to a few equations, and the main principle being to keep as much water on the land for as long as possible so it can be absorbed in the water table, rather than letting it wash away. Van Dyck explained how 1% of organic matter in the soil holds about 27,000 gallons of water per acre, and “each percentage increase of organic matter increases the amount of inches of rain absorbed by the land.” He also suggested that using hilltops as “big sponges” and capturing rainfall at higher elevations can be very effective at raising the water table. Landowners and caretakers can keep water on the land by increasing soil fertility, using berms or small dams, minimizing erosion, and more.
