Hill Country Cedar vs H2O

[Mastro]

I found a very small spring on my place and would like to make it larger/more productive.

My place is covered up with cedar. I once read about some fella in the Hill Country who cleared out all his cedar trees which in turn created fresh water springs on his land. I think the science behind the story was that the cedar trees sucked up gallons upon gallons of water so by removing them, the springs were able to do their thing.

My question is: Should I start cedar chopping?

Yes, I know lots of folks think cedars are not native, and should be treated as weeds. Personally, I like cedar trees and think most folks that hate them are misguided or are thinking from emotion (maybe one too many cedar fever episodes ). That being said, I may consider chopping some if it's going to help increase the spring's gph flow.

Thoughts??

[Landrover]

Clear an acre or two around the spring and see what happens! Cedar and even worse salt cedar are notourious for using GALLONS of water so removing them is critical if your goal is to increase water in that area. Oh, chopping cedar only makes it mad. U must eradicate it!

[brunner]

In my in degree (Resource and Environmental Studies) in college at Texas State University we constantly studied this type of problems. We went to the Bamberger Ranch between Blanco and Johnson City. It was unbelievable what that simple field trip taught me about how harmful the cedars can be to an area especially with natural springs as well as an area that is might possibly be used as cattle grazing. Here is a link that may help. They had the same predicament as you. http://bambergerranch.org/about-us/selah-history/

I was taught that an with heavy cedar should be cleared/up rooted of all cedar except for 1-3 cedars per acre. Pretty interesting if you have time to take a workshop or field trip there. If you are getting in to land, wildlife, and cattle management it is very informative.

[Matt_C]

I've been told and brunner probably knows more, that the average size cedar can suck up to 35 gallons of water from a source a day.

[brunner]

I've been told and brunner probably knows more, that the average size cedar can suck up to 35 gallons of water from a source a day.

That is true and another problem is the way their leaves/needles allows less than 60% of rainfall water past the needles and branches to even make it to the ground.

[buxNdux]

To add what brunner said, cedar can also have an allelopathic affect on the soil in which chokes out most native bunch grasses which are important for holding topsoil in place. The places in which red berry and blue berry juniper are found the soild is typically rockey for that reason. Any water that hits the ground immediately errodes that topsoil because bunchgrasses are no longer there. Determine which type of juniper/cedar you have red berry cannot be topkilled and blueberry can.

[12 point]

I recall watching a segment on Texas Parks and Wildlife, where a land owner had Cedars all over and had something done about it. Think there was a spring fed creek or stream on the land that had dried up. A tracked excavator with an attachment was used to clip the trees off at the base and then a skid steer would push them into piles.

Think I'd prefer to dig every bit of them up.

Don't remember how many acres were cleared, but it didn't take long for the creek or stream to start flowing again once the trees were cleared.

[brunner]

I recall watching a segment on Texas Parks and Wildlife, where a land owner had Cedars all over and had something done about it. Think there was a spring fed creek or stream on the land that had dried up. A tracked excavator with an attachment was used to clip the trees off at the base and then a skid steer would push them into piles.

Think I'd prefer to dig every bit of them up.

Don't remember how many acres were cleared, but it didn't take long for the creek or stream to start flowing again once the trees were cleared.

Bamberger Ranch was the ranch I do believe

[chief262]

My brother in law is involved in this project. Here is a link to one of his publications. There might be some funding to assist in cedar control in your county. Worth looking into. Do a "conner cedar control water" type search for more info.

http://twri.tamu.edu/publications/txh2o/fall-2006/freeing-up-water/

[Mastro]

My brother in law is involved in this project. Here is a link to one of his publications. There might be some funding to assist in cedar control in your county. Worth looking into. Do a "conner cedar control water" type search for more info.

http://twri.tamu.edu/publications/tx...eing-up-water/

Will do. Thanks