Mineral Wells Area News

By David R. Turk / President Palo Pinto Municipal Water District #1

I would like to clear up any confusion that lately has been circulated about a sandbar clogging the creek and flow into Palo Pinto Lake.

A drone was flown over on May 2nd, and clearly shows water flowing into the lake. There has been some silting into the lake. The drought we have gone through has dried up the creeks and stock tanks located in the watershed. These all need to be filled before water can flow into the lake.

We recently have seen increases in lake levels due to the watershed getting charged. saturated. We now need heavy downpours to run water. This is a normal occurring phenomena in lakes and watersheds.

Some people have commented that the sandbar should be cleared and allow more flow. To dredge the mouth of the creek would take an Army Corps permit, similar to the one issued to build Turkey Peak, but not as long or involved, but it is inconsequential. This is a reservoir for public drinking water. It is not the same as a cleaning out a stock tank on private land. Engineering analysis’ along with EPA and TCEQ permits are needed,all with large cost. Since there is proof that the flow into the lake isn’t affected by the sandbar, it would be fiscally irresponsible to spend a lot of time and money on an unnecessary project.

Possum Kingdom is overflowing now due to it being in a different watershed and having enjoyed more rain downpours. If you draw a line approximately from Brownwood to Bridgeport, you will find all these lakes are 8 to 15 feet low with the exception of Tucker Lake in Strawn, which is about 2 feet low. It’s not just a lake Palo Pinto crisis.

We are scheduled to start construction on Turkey Peak Reservoir in the first quarter of 2025. When completed and filled this will enable all of us to go through future droughts without being on water restrictions. Climatologists have forecasted more frequent and longer duration droughts for our area in the near future.