A new study from The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University shows Barton Creek and Onion Creek contribute significant flows to the Colorado River.
“On a per-acre basis, the Barton and Onion creek watersheds contribute twice as much flow to the Colorado River than the Pedernales River watershed,” said Yipeng Zhang, hydrogeologist at the Meadows Center and lead author of the study. “This is helpful information when considering which land to conserve to preserve the region’s water supplies.”
The Colorado River supplies drinking water to millions of Texans and serves as an important source of water to the state’s economy, environment, agriculture and industry. The river relies on tributary flows to fill its reservoirs and support a healthy aquatic habitat. During severe droughts, when flow in the Colorado River upstream of Lake Buchanan ceases, local tributary flows may be the only contributors to the river.
