It's Gettin' Dry In Texas

Post by **tex** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 12:50 pm

Hi All,

I don't live in a heavily forested area, such as around Bastrop, TX, (which has been in the national news lately, due to fires which destroyed over 1,500 homes), instead, I live in farming and ranching country, where the only trees are mostly around homesteads, creeks, rivers, and fence lines. I stopped and took a photo this morning, looking down a small draw, across one of our pastures, that's representative of some of the effects of the drought in our area. Of course, this time of the year, there's almost always some dry grass around, because it matured in late spring, or early summer, but most of the grass should still be green, and growing. The trees, of course, should all be green and healthy.

As you can see in the photo, there's not much green color left in this normally-green part of Texas. The thick line of trees that goes all the way across the photo, from left to right, toward the top of the photo, (but below the tree line on the horizon), follows a creek, (that would normally have water, of course). Notice how many of the trees along that creek are either dead or in various stages of dying. That's a plowed cornfield beyond the trees.

You'll need to click on the image, in order to be able to see any detail. After the system enlarges it, if you'll click on the enlarged photo, it will be enlarged again, so that it will be much easier to see detail.

It's gettin' dry in Texas.

Tex

karenswans · Post by **karenswans** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:30 pm

Wow. That's pretty severe. If I could send you some rain from Seattle, I would!

nancyl · Post by **nancyl** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 2:08 pm

I sure hope you get some rain soon. Any in the forecast? I assume you have live there all of your life, have you ever seen it this dry?

Nancy

hazel · Post by **hazel** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 2:35 pm

Wow, that is dry. What beautiful open country though. I'll bet this dry spell has been hard on the wildlife as well as the crops...and the farmers!

Post by **tex** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 4:31 pm

Karen and Nancy,

It's raining here today, but as usual, only a few scattered drops are falling - not even enough to amount to a measurable trace.

It was approximately this dry in the mid 1950's. Major drought cycles generally run in approximately 50-year cycles. Our "normal" annual rainfall is 35 inches. We've had 9.58 inches in the last 365 days. 7.5 inches of that fell this year, (from January 1 until now).

Kathy,

It really has been hard on the wildlife, (as well as the farmers and ranchers). Most forage plants have been in short supply all year, so insects are short, as well as small prey species, (rodents, etc.), so most species farther up the chain are having a tough time, as well. Birds of all types seem to be exceptionally scarce this year, (for the second year in a row - they were scarce last year, but they're scarcer this year, since the drought is worse). Deer are going to have a tough time, this winter, unless they luck out and the weather begins to cooperate.

Mud daubers are unable to make nests, because there's no mud in most places, and even the paper wasps are having trouble fabricating paper nests. Without the mud daubers, and the below ground-nesting spider hunters, I don't know what's controlling the spiders, but the heat might be controlling them, because we have very, very few spiders this year. I haven't heard a frog, or seen a toad, in almost a year, now.

Cattle auctions have been running at record levels since about mid-spring, with virtually all the cattle that are sold, being moved to another state.

Tex

hazel · Post by **hazel** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:08 pm

It must be pretty quiet, with little in the way of insects, birds or frogs. Just the sound of the wind rustling the dry grasses....

Post by **tex** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:27 pm

Yep. If it weren't for the ringing in my ears, it would be deathly quiet, out in the countryside.

Tex

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:27 pm

Wow, Tex,

When I doubled-enlarged, the foreground looked like straw. Very scary. I imagine you have to be careful not to create any sparks. Here's hoping the rain is coming. As I said before, I wish I could send you some of our rain - we are 1 foot ahead for the year.

I agree with Kathy, though, that the photo portrays lovely open country, albeit scorched.

Love,

Polly

garina · Post by **garina** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:47 pm

Dry or not, that is a spectacular picture. I can visualize all the green. Hope you get rain sooner than later.

garina

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 8:07 pm

What a sad situation. It's hard on the animals, the farmers and the earth. The picture gives a glimpse of what could be with adequate rainfall. It looks like it would normally be a beautiful area. I hope this ends soon for you.

Gloria

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 1:05 pm

Wow!

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 2:23 pm

Hi Tex,

Thanks for sharing the picture - it speaks volumes. So sorry for all the hardships suffered by all living things in this relentless drought.

It is hard to believe that my friend, who lives outside Austin, almost lost her beautiful small ranch in a flood created by too much rain coming too quickly just a few years ago (can't remember the year?). She had a creek/river that overflowed and brought a couple of feet of water into her structures, including her home. She was so traumatized by the experience that she sold the ranch and moved to higher grounds.

I hope that when the rain finally comes, it comes more gently and steadily, so it can be effectively absorbed into the parched ground.

Love,
Kari

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 5:06 pm

Dearest Tex,

A picture is truly worth a thousand words - that is most stunning, and concerning.

And yes, beautiful, in a fierce and stark way... truly hope the long dry spell will come to and end soon.

Up here, some of my urban friends belong to CSAs that are wiped out due to rain. Not only the fields, but the storage barns were flooded, and the FDA ruled no flood-inundated crops can be sold for human consumption. One of our Greenmarket farmers was wiped out as well.

Sending fervent wishes for steady, gentle drizzle...

Love,
Sara

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:24 pm

Wow, the drought in Texas makes the one we have been dealing with in Florida for a few years look very mild. The picture you posted is surely worth a thousand words. All life is suffering, for sure.

It rains very, very hard here in the summer and then we have very little rain during the dry season. Our pine woods catch fire and spread quickly. Again, nothing in comparison to what you are suffering in Texas. We depend upon the rain from hurricanes and tropical depressions to catch us up during the summer. We have been lucky to have avoided hurricanes the past few years but the North and Northeast have borne the brunt this year. Too bad we can't share it with those who need it.

Thanks for the picture, Tex. The countryside must be beautiful most of the time.
Sheila

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:28 am

Morning Tex,

What a shame that it is so dry when other parts of the country are so wet. When we were on vacation the Weather Channel actually showed our township in PA and how it was ahead 20" for the year. We are so wet most of the Lancaster County Amish farmers have lost all crops due to the severe wetness. It is either feast or famine it seems.

Hope you get rain very soon and that it is a good rain not a flooding one.

Love, Maggie