About Our Watershed
What is a Watershed
Simply put, a watershed is an area of land that drains to a particular waterbody. Every part of the landscape belongs to some watershed. Watersheds can be larger than a state or smaller than even a single neighborhood. No matter the size, all rain that falls or springs that emerge within one of these areas ultimately flows to the same point at the bottom of the watershed, carrying with it everything that is washed away from the surrounding landscape.
Lake Granbury Watershed
The
Lake Granbury Watershed is part of the larger Brazos River Basin,
which drains 44,000 sq. miles. The Brazos River Basin begins
just west of the New Mexico/Texas Border and ends in Gulf of Mexico
near Freeport. The Lake Granbury Watershed sits on the Brazos River
between the DeCordova Dam at Lake Granbury to just below the dam at
Lake Possum Kingdom. Eastland, Erath, Hood, Palo Pinto,
Parker and Stephen counties all encompass land that drains into the
watershed. The tributaries of the Brazos River and Lake
Granbury drain 2,138 sq. miles, making the Lake Granbury Watershed
a little larger than the size of the state of Delaware. The lake
supplies water for approximately 75,000 people in Hood and Johnson
counties.
Why it is Important
Protecting the quality of the water in Lake Granbury begins with the protecting the watershed. Many contaminants and pollutants that are present in the lake come from the surrounding land. These pollutants can come from fertilizers, pesticides, failing septic tanks, or animal and pet waste. Healthy watersheds are vital for healthy environment and economy. The Lake Granbury watershed provides water for drinking, irrigation and industry. People come from all over the state to boat, fish, and swim. Protecting the watershed is an effective and efficient way to sustain the both local economy and health of the lake.