AA WWaatteerrsshheedd PPrrootteeccttiioonn PPll aann ffoorr tthhee PPeeccooss RRiivveerr iinn TTeexxaass October 2008 A Watershed Protection Plan for the Pecos River in Texas Funded By: Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (Project 04-11) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Investigating Agencies: Texas AgriLife Extension Service Texas AgriLife Research International Boundary and Water Commission, U.S. Section Texas Water Resources Institute Prepared by: Lucas Gregory, Texas Water Resources Institute and Will Hatler, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Funding for this project was provided through a Clean Water Act §319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Acknowledgments The Investigating Agencies would like to take this opportunity to thank the many individuals who have contributed to the success of this project. The development of this watershed protection plan would not have been possible without the cooperation and consolidation of efforts from everyone involved. First, we would like to thank the many landowners and other interested parties who have attended project meetings, participated in surveys, and provided invaluable input that has guided the development of this document. Your interest in this project and the Pecos River was and will continue to be instrumental in ensuring the future restoration and improvement of the health of this important natural resource. While there are too many of you to name here, we hope that your interest, involvement, and willingness to implement needed management measures will grow as progress is made and new phases of the watershed protection plan are initiated. Our gratitude is extended to the following individuals who have contributed their support, technical expertise, time, and/or advice during the project: Greg Huber, J.W. Thrasher, Bruce Moring, Steve Byrns, Bill Davis, Cory Horan and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Clean Rivers Program team, and all Texas AgriLife Extension Service county agents located in the Pecos River watershed. We also recognize the following entities for their cooperation or contributions: Upper Pecos Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Crockett SWCD, Red Bluff Water and Power Control District (WPCD), Pecos Valley Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), U.S. Geological Survey, Texas Forest Service, TCEQ, and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. Additionally, we extend our thanks to the municipalities of Del Rio, Fort Stockton, Imperial, Iraan, Mentone, Ozona, and Pecos and to Independence Creek Nature Preserve for the use of their facilities to conduct project meetings. Our acknowledgment and appreciation is extended to the entire project team, whose commitment to their individual tasks and the overall project has facilitated the drafting of this watershed protection plan. Team members include Wayne Belzer, Lucas Gregory, Nancy Hanks, Bill Harris, Charles Hart, Will Hatler, Ric Jensen, Allan Jones, Allen Knutson, Alyson McDonald, Mike Mecke, Seiichi Miyamoto, Mark Muegge, Zhuping Sheng, Jaclyn Tech, Bill Thompson, and Kevin Wagner. Mitch Conine, Joe Freeman, TJ Helton, Aaron Wendt, and Ben Wilde of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board have also provided valuable insight and support for the project, and we do appreciate their efforts. Our special thanks to the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for funding the project and providing this unique opportunity to improve and restore the Pecos River in Texas. Contributing authors and editors of the watershed protection plan include Wayne Belzer, Allen Berthold, Gary Bryant, Mitch Conine, Lucas Gregory, Will Hatler, Charles Hart, Leslie Jordan, Alyson McDonald, Megan Meier, Seiichi Miyamoto, Zhuping Sheng, Bill Thompson, Fason Yuan, Aaron Wendt, and Kathy Wythe. Again, thank you to all of our contributors and participants and we look forward to continuing these partnerships in the future. Pecos River Watershed Protection Plan i Table of Contents Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... ii List of Acronyms ........................................................................................................................ viii Figures ............................................................................................................................................ x Tables ............................................................................................................................................ xi Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... xiii The Pecos River Above and Below Interstate 10 ............................................................. xiii Problem/Need Statement .................................................................................................. xiii Sub-Watershed Approach ................................................................................................. xiv Watershed Protection Plan Summary ................................................................................ xv Framework of the Plan .......................................................................................... xv What’s in the Plan ................................................................................................. xv Salinity Management ................................................................................. xv Biological Diversity .................................................................................. xvi Water Quantity .......................................................................................... xvi Golden Algae ............................................................................................ xvi Dissolved Oxygen ...................................................................................... xvi Sediment ................................................................................................... xvii Oil and Gas Production ........................................................................... xvii Nutrients and Chlorophyll-a .................................................................... xvii Technical and Financial Assistance ........................................................ xvii Education and Outreach ........................................................................ xviii Implementation Schedules and Milestones ............................................ xviii Monitoring and Measuring Success....................................................... xviii Participation in Watershed Protection Plan Implementation ....................................... xviii Private Property and Water Rights................................................................................ xviii Impacts from New Mexico ............................................................................................. xviii Pecos River Watershed Protection Plan ii Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 2 The Pecos River Watershed in Texas .................................................................................. 2 The Upper and Lower Pecos River ......................................................................... 4 Pecos River Subwatersheds .................................................................................... 4 Lower Pecos – Red Bluff ............................................................................. 5 Delaware ..................................................................................................... 7 Toyah Creek ................................................................................................ 7 Salt Draw .................................................................................................... 8 Barilla Draw ............................................................................................... 8 Coyanosa–Hackberry Draws ...................................................................... 8 Landreth–Monument Draws ....................................................................... 9 Lower Pecos ................................................................................................ 9 Tunas Creek ................................................................................................ 9 Independence Creek .................................................................................. 10 Howard Draw ........................................................................................... 10 Watershed Boundaries .......................................................................................... 10 Land Use and Land Cover .................................................................................... 11 Ecoregions............................................................................................................. 13 Agriculture and Economy ..................................................................................... 15 Soils, Geology and Topography ..........................................................................