Water Feature Develpment - Suggestions???

[blackjack]

I'm looking for help and guidance from anyone who has had experience developing natural water features in the Hill Country or similar areas of the state.

Back in December, myself along with four other friends purchased some property in southern Kimble County between Junction and Kerrville. The tract contains a seasonal creek in the western portion of the property which flows down into a natural spring that is the headwaters of the Johnson Fork of the South Llano River, some 50 to 75 yards from our property line. The water flow rate from the spring is approximately 750 to 1,000 gpm, which provides ample number of recreational water features along the creek bed from that point downstream.

After inspecting the portion of the creek bed which is located on our property, we have located a number of "seeping" springs throughout the area, although we do not have a consistent stream of water flowing down our creek bed. However, we have identified a couple of possible locations for installing dams which would provide some very nice swimming holes if we could develop a continual water source feeding our portion of the stream. Here are a few pictures which illustrate what I am talking about.

This is the deep "pool" where the first water feature would be located...





Here are a few more pictures showing other areas for water development













These pictures were taken prior to the snow for illustration of how the creek bed typically looks...





We have had a water well guy come out to our property and mark multiple possible locations for drilling a well to tap into the water table. His recommendation at the majority of these points is that we would have a viable water source at no more than 150-200 feet. Now, we know there will not likely be enough pressure to bring the water to the surface simply by drilling the hole, so we need to look for a pump that will economically bring water to the surface for our plans to develop the water feature(s). A couple of possible scenarios we have come up with are:

1) Drill a 2" well and equip it with a solar powered pump to slowly fill the two large water holes we have dammed up. Then, install a 750 gpm recirculation pump to bring the water back upstream and let it "flow" back down over the rocks into the pools.

2)Drill the 2" water well and equip it with an electric submersible pump to quickly fill the large water holes and just run the pump when we are out on the property to enjoy the water features.

Again, we are really just in the feasibility study portion of this and looking for some guidance and recommendations. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-Wade

[Devin]

Wade,

I don't have time to look up a lot of particular info, but off the top of my head key questions would be:

1. Well production rate? What would the typical well in that area realiably produce during the season when it would be used most (i.e. summer). (low flow = 20 gpm continously? Peak daily flow volume, etc.?) Weigh those answers against a mass ballance of required water taking into account water loss to evaporation, seepage and evapotranspiration, etc. Recirculation would decrease well requirements, but you'll be surprised how much water you'll lose.

2. Solar power pumping capacity? I did a quick search and found only small solar pumps that pump in the single digit gallons per hour at very low head. You will need a pump capable of pumping at minimum something like 20 gpm (slow fill scenario....mass balance will tell you this more precisely) at anywhere from 50-200 feet of head (depending on the well).

I don't know if solar power is capable of the requirements for a system like this, so your only other option would be purchased power.... if that's available.

Search around and see what solar powered pumps you can find. I can help you with the mass balance of the system once it's determined if solar power is adequate or if you'll require purchased power and that's an option. County extension agent should be able to answer or direct you to someone who'd know the water welll capabilities in the area (i.e. don't trust the water well guy).

BTW, looks like a beautiful place. Congratulations.

[blackjack]

Thanks for the insight Devin...those were some of the same concerns about how feasible/cost effective the project will be (ie, solar well volume, evaporation and seepage loss with the recirculation pump, water volume requirements with a recirculation system, etc). I will make some calls and try to find out some of the more basic info to provide a more clear picture of some of these variables.

[Jamie]

I've looked at several ranches that tried to fill small ponds 2+ acres with solar powered water wells.....the ponds were always dry...

I fill (really just add water as needed) my 10+ acre lake with a submersible pump rated 200/gpm....it does cost me approx. $80/day to run it, though.

[Panther]

What about a wind mill? It worked for the old timers.
Use caution if damming a water way. It can cause problems down stream.

[Deer Tracks]

Then, install a 750 gpm recirculation pump to bring the water back upstream and let it "flow" back down over the rocks into the pools.

Remember, in the summer, you will be losing tremendous amounts of groundwater to evaporation if you bring it to the surface.
If we have another dry summer, your going to have to be pumping lots of water to keep the ponds full.

[ken]

I would install a solar pump before I installed a windmill. The solar pump is cheaper and less maintenance. I have a friend with a ranch in west Texas and anytime a windmill malfunctions it is replaced with a solar pump. The solar powered pump doesn't make as nice of a photograph, however.

[Jamie]

what about a series of dams to pool the water?

[blackjack]

Editing...

[blackjack]

As you will see, we are attempting to use the natural boulders already in place on the stream to form the majority of the dams we are wanting to create. These dams are not designed to prohibit or decrease the water flow down stream, but rather the slow the movement of that water and provide deeper pools along the waterway. I've seen a number of these dams put in place throughout the hill country and they don't seem to affect downstream water rights or requirements as far as I can tell. Of course, we will be checking with local water authority officials before any of this stuff is implemented.

The First Pool

This pool will be the first dam location and depending on whether we can feasibly create a "live water" source, or simply just "fill the tank" could possibly have a slight water fall effect.







The Second Pool

We envision this pool as being the "hang out" area that covers a wide surface area and has some ledges for sunbathing, hanging out, or when Stolle is with us...mass consumption of adult beverages! Seriously though, its fairly shallow and a really cool place to bring the kids without fear of the water being too deep, yet still accomplished the goal of keeping us cool on the blazing hill country summer days!



It appears to us that both of these locations at some point in the past held water as natural pools, but over time the boulders were eroded allowing the water to pass through downstream leaving the pools dry.

We can bring electricity to a potential water well site at a relatively low expense, but it's my gut feeling that running an electric submersible pump to artificially create a live water feature full time will be cost prohibitive to the project. I am resigned to the fact that if we can create these "pools" and have them hold water at a reasonable rate, then the project is worth the time, effort and expense...if not, we may scrap the whole idea!

[1369]

Don't know how much help this will be, but at my family's place outside of Barksdale, years ago my father and grandfather put down a bunch of "drilling mud" to keep the water from running back underground as well as a few concrete dams.

I'd also suggest cutting all the cedar from around the springs. The gov't did an experiment at Camp Bullis by my house and they were shocked to see how the water table came up as well as the "new" springs that showed up.

[cosmiccowboy]

I don't think you are going to be very pleased with the results of using the natural stream bed and recirculating the water. You will get a substantial algae bloom once the weather warms up and the water will look gross and slimy.

For swimming/lazing around the water you might consider building a big hot tub/pool that you can drain when you leave. We have one at the ranch made out of rock that is about 20' across and it works great...we fill it from the well and can drain it about once a week when the water starts to get funky. We have a spa heater on it and a lot of guys use it during hunting season too...

[Devin]

Very interesting ideas, Wade. That second dam location site is great. Looks like a very small dam will hold back a large surface area of water.

How far is the first dam location from the second? I don't know the legality in the water district you are in, but if they are close together, you might try using the first pond as a means to simply store rain water for the second pond. This would require having a means of releasing the water on command, but might be another option.

If you can give me the approx. lat and lon of the dam locations, I can look at a topo map and do some rough estimations of the amount of water volume to anticipate annually.

[txtimetravler]

Yes, cedars are hydrophytes. They will suck up the water.

I would also suggest that you investigate the legalities of ****ing a creek. It seems like lance Armstrong was sued after he affected the natural flow of the creek behind his property. Just my .02

[blackjack]

Sorry for the delay Devin, but I'm PM'ing you the GPS coordinates on the two pools right now. Thanks for the help.

-Wade