It is a harsh and well-known reality that we are now in the worst drought in a very long time, and there’s no clear indication that it will let up any time soon. Many of us living in urban and suburban areas are subject to the “hydro-illogical cycle”, which starts with awareness as a result of drought, followed by panic, and finally a return to apathy after the first rainfall, then repeats without end. However, ranchers and farmers who are caring for the water, soil, plants and wildlife on their land are fully aware of the effects of drought. Some of Hill Country Conservancy’s landowner partners gave us their thoughts on how they are managing during this drought and planning for future droughts, and how their activities affect the resources on their land.
What measures are you taking to protect the long-term viability and health of your land during this drought? How has this drought impacted your long-term planning?
Paul Kaden, Bleakley Ranch (PK): I know that my yard and flower bed are as dry as my fields. We have absolutely no water. I have a good well and have tried to preserve the water. I sold some of my cows last spring, and I’m looking to sell more, as having to supplement with way is expensive and my ultimate goal is to give the land a rest. I’m still looking for land to lease for grazing, which would give my land more of a rest.
Scott Storm, Storm Ranch (SS): We have known for some time that we’re more often “in” drought than “out”, so this particular drought hasn’t dramatically changed our long-term planning for soil and water conservation.
Denton Ragland, Ragland Ranch (DR): Immediate measures include:
• Closely monitoring livestock pasture rotation to avoid or mitigate overgrazing
• Frequent inspections of livestock and wildlife water sources
• Removal of cedar around oak and other desirable shade trees
• Keeping the fire breaks along property lines cleared
• Daily inspections for possible fire sources
• Not watering landscaping in order to ease the burden on the well
This drought has caused us to realize that we should actually incorporate drought management into our long-term planning. We have become more aware of educational resources available to assist landowners in understanding and managing their natural resources.
Anne Brockenbrough, Brockenbrough Ranch (AB): I am destocking and trying to rest as many of my pastures as possible.
Do you think these actions have effects beyond the boundaries of your property (e.g., on the greater water supply, downstream properties, wildlife, etc.)? If so, please explain briefly.
PK: We are feeding deer as they are suffering and as they come on my property for water. I am not sure my actions are affecting others outside of my boundaries except maintaining the wildlife.
SS: There is no doubt that the improvements we are making will, over time, result in enhanced recharge to the aquifer, improved habitat for various species and improved ecological conditions on all downstream properties.
DR: Most certainly. How my land and water resources are managed impacts neighboring properties, as well as others many miles away. For example, pesticides and fertilizers improperly or inappropriately applied to my land may directly enter the underlying aquifer, or runoff onto downstream properties as water migrates over and through my land. In addition, pasture mismanagement can cause erosion that makes adversely impacts downstream water quality. Area wildlife is affected by water and pasture conditions on my land.
Has the conservation easement changed the way you are dealing with this drought, or how you will deal with droughts in the future? (In other words, if there weren’t a conservation easement on your land, how might you deal with this and future droughts differently?)
PK: No different. The only difference if I did not have an easement I would dam some of the creeks to preserve the water. I disagree with the no damming on the easement as the creeks are shallow and eventually evaporate as opposed to making a water resource for animals.
SS: As far as our easements are concerned, there is nothing that specifically addresses drought management. We have always adjusted our stocking rates and rotational grazing plans in response to short-term fluctuations in rainfall and will continue efforts to re-establish more efficient, native forage species and control water-hungry brush to improve our longer term drought management capabilities.
DR: If we didn’t have a conservation easement, I might not have the same degree of proprietary sense about responsibly managing the land. I think the process of establishing a conservation easement on a property results in a landowner being more knowledgeable and responsible about managing the land in prudent and sustainable ways. Having resource partners whose interests are in the protection of the land results is a positive benefit flowing to the participating landowner.
AB: If I had not gotten this conservation easement grant, I would not have been able to hang on to my ranch. I make my living off the land – and that has been impossible with this drought.
Do you think your land is affected by how others manage their land or water during drought? If so, how?
PK: No.
SS: Our land is definitely affected by inappropriate uses and management practices on other land in our area. Overgrazing, poor brush control and over-pumping of the aquifer on adjacent properties have a constant negative effect on our land, not just during times of drought. It is more obvious during a drought, however.
DR: Fire hazards; wildlife; water table levels; aquifer and water source contamination; hay supply; runoff following drought.
AB: My neighbors have been good stewards of their land, so I’ve been lucky.
How has experience with previous droughts or wisdom from others about previous droughts helped you cope with this drought?
PK: a) I did not buy drought insurance when I should have. b) I should have sold more cows.
SS: Previous experience with droughts in our area have mainly educated us to the fact that this is an ongoing condition. Our long-term planning in this location will anticipate more years in drought than out.
DR: From over 100 years of recorded weather history we know that droughts are an inevitable part of the climactic cycle. Prudent owners manage their lands and water with this in mind. From past experience we know there are drought specific strategies such as for feeding, grazing, and watering livestock, for weed and brush management, for fire mitigation, and for pasture management. We also know that this drought will end. How we manage the land and water in the drought and during recovery directly impacts the “health” of the land moving forward. How we manage during the green years before the next drought will then impact how the land fares then.
AB: During the drought of 2006, I started destocking and started cutting hay instead of grazing my pastures. I was one of the only people around with any hay, so it turned out to be a good business decision. I decided then that I would only run stocker calves when I had good grass so that I could liquidate in a hurry if I needed to. If we have good rain I can run some stockers and raise hay, but this year I haven’t cut any hay. I am trying to rest as many of my pastures as possible. This drought has been devastating. I am trucking in semi loads of hay from South Texas where they irrigate.