Your right about range management. If everyone in west texas that owns land with a decent size creek running through it would sign up for the watershed riparian programs available via the USDA office we would be in better shape. These programs pay the landowner the same as CRP to get rid of cedar, mesquite, prickly and salt cedars on about 90 foot either side of the waterway. Then they pay 40.00 an acre to maintain that area and keep livestock out. They will even pay for a portion of fencing it off. Landowners are still allowed to have areas funnel down to water livestock.

There is a lot off rangeland issues, some brought on by the state, they have done some stuff in the past that in hind sight just look dumb... Case and point, bringing in salt cedar and willow bakaras. riparian zones are a start but even more is needed.

This has been a good thread with alot of interesting information but I think it is important to put comprehensive water programs in Texas or any other state for that matter into perspective.

The planning and logistics of water collection and deversion at the state level is done with the current population and projected future populations in mind, and at what levels are needed for consumption in a given area. Sport fishing is not now nor has it ever been included in this equasion.

Sportfishing and conservation has always been a by-product of the water planning that has been done, and in some cases like the Colorado River the consumption planning (which includes 20 some odd dams in the continental US) eventually left out conservation consideration altogether. In fact only in years that have exstrordinary rainfall does any of the Colorado even reach the Gulf of California.

Sooner or later the state of Texas will have to do somthing dramatic to help out the western portion of the state, but it dont seem as though its in the works for anytime soon.

No, currently THIS is America. Thought this was interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIffq85zMI4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Have to agree on wasting. Spent 20 yrs in Fl and yard watering restrictions there are pretty much all the time. Back in San Angelo 2006-2009 and there were no water restrictions even though OC Fisher was basically dry and Twin Buttes very low. Often saw people with yard sprinklers going mid day on 90+ degree days. All they were doing was briefly cooling the air & wasting water.

As the crow flies Optima is about 7 miles from my Uncles ranch. That project wound up taking a good portion of his land. What a waste. I drove over the dam last year. Good place to deer hunt. There were crews out there dismantling all the picnic areas. It made the news several years ago "Fleesing America"

Where is the Optima dam located.

Optima lake is in Oklahoma and Palo Duro is way up north. Just north of Spearmen, Texas

be hard to see OH Ive like this

http://www.abandonedok.com/optima-lake-state-park/

Here goes:

Midland "city fathers" and a newly created water "entity" are in a deal to pipe water from a field further west around Monahans, as Midland owns the water rights in that field. One of the members of that new "entity" is a former Midland "city father"......coincidence?....sounds like status quo around here.....brother-in-law government....and let's all line each other's pockets....

We have been on water restrictions since last summer. If you exceed the 10,000 gallon limit per household each month, your price per gallon is $19.55 per 1000 instead of the former $3.91 and if you exceed 25,000 it's $22.50 per 1000 instead of the old $4.50 rate.

A recent report based on the water bills of residents showed that 45% are exceeding the limits and/or are ignoring the restrictions. The report also showed that the majority of the addresses in that 45% are in the newer real estate areas of north and northwest Midland. I live in this area but my neighbors around us and my family are abiding by the restrictions. We do have one fellow on our street that flat said he'd water when he wanted to and he has yet to be cited.

The city said they are limiting the number of water well permits inside the city limits, but I have seen 5 wells being drilled in my area alone in the past month. Nothing boosts my property values more than the guy down the street with a water well beside his drive way..... The water well guys have waiting lists and the price for a well has doubled in the past year. But that's the old supply and demand situation.

What these people don't understand that the aquafier they are tapping into won't last forever either.