Brush Management/Water Yield Feasibility Study for Four Watersheds In Texas

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to simulate the effects of brush removal on water yield in four watersheds in Texas for 1960 through 1999. Methods used in this study were similar to methods used in a previous study (TAES, 2000) in which 8 watersheds were analyzed. Landsat 7 satellite imagery was used to classify land use, and the 1:24,000 scale digital elevation model (DEM) was used to delineate watershed boundaries and subbasins. SWAT was calibrated to measured stream gauge flow and reservoir storage. Brush removal was simulated by converting all heavy and moderate categories of brush (except oak) to open range (native grass). Simulated changes in water yield due to brush treatment varied by subbasin, with all subbasins showing increased water yield as a result of removing brush. Average annual water yield increases ranged from about 111,000 gallons per treated acre in the Fort Phantom Hill watershed to about 178,000 gallons per treated acre in the Palo Pinto watershed. Water yield increases per treated acre were similar to a previous study (COE, 2002), but higher than TAES (2000). As in previous studies, there was a strong, positive correlation between water yield increase and precipitation. BACKGROUND Increases in brush area and density may contribute to a decrease in water yield, possibly due to increased evapotranspiration (ET) on watersheds with brush as compared to those with grass (Thurow, 1998; Dugas et al., 1998). Previous modeling studies of watersheds in Texas (Upper Colorado River Authority, 1998; TAES, 2000) indicated that removing brush might result in a significant increase in water yield. During the 2000-2001 legislative session, the Texas Legislature appropriated funds to study the effects of brush removal on water yield in watersheds above Lake Arrowhead, Lake Brownwood, Lake Fort Phantom Hill, and Lake Palo Pinto (Figure 1-1). The hydrologic