How green is it with all this rain?

[optique]

I am curious if all this rain has turned the desert into a garden yet? Even Castolon has gotten a lot, almost two inches on Thursday I think.

Cat Tail Falls must be roaring! The desert washes must have at least pools of water or running water.

The desert was green when I was there last August, and its almost time to go again.

I would like to hear from anyone who has been there in the last week or two.

Thanks.
Steve.

[Sotol Vista]

I saw a photo posted on one of the photography forums I visit and the Bend was pretty darn green. the photo was taken about 2 weeks ago.

I will be there next Saturday the 11th

James

[Doc Savage]

I was up there last weekend. Couldn't believe how green the Davis Mountains were. South Brewster is a little less green, but amazingly green none the less. Ranger at PJ said that there were flowers blooming now that normally don't bloom this time of year. Saw some purple ones I don't recall seeing before. Once I get caught up, I'll try to get some pics posted.

Robert

[optique]

Hey Doc,

That is great news!

I should be in the Park and maybe Davis Mountains before the month is out.

I remember as a teenager, that the Basin as the only decent place, since the desert seemed hot, dry, colorless, and uninviting.

Now, as an adult, and as an amatuer photographer, I am looking forward to the Big Bend landscape under some dramatic looking clouds, from the desert perspective.

Last Aug, I got plenty of clouds in the basin, but they were not too interesting because it was totally socked in a lot, none of the thunder head type clouds that are most dramatic. "Unfortunately", we spent most of our time in the Basin. The consolation was there were running waterfalls in the basin area, and Cattail Falls was roaring.

I am sometimes guilty of this too, but how many of us make the trip, but never post a report, or a few pics? (I still have a dozen rolls of (b&w 120) undeveloped film from my last trip)

Anyway, hope you all have a good day, even if we have to spend it in Houston, or Dallas, etc. James, thanks for the info, too.

-Steve.

[Doc Savage]

Clouds were hit and miss while I was out there. I spent most of the time on some land we purchased near the park. Got some neat cloud pictures, but when I drove thru the park, it was an overcast day and really dreary. As I headed out Dagger Flats, you could see the Basin socked in and looked like they were getting a real pounding. When I had left PJ, a lady was asking about the weather outside the park. She said that it had rained straight for the previous hour and a half in the basin.

Robert

[SHANEA]

It's green out there.

Green covers Big Bend desert
By Mike Perry / Editor & Publisher

It's green out there.

From Marathon to Alpine to Fort Davis to Marfa, the land is taking on the hue of Tennessee's Smoky Mountains.

Well, maybe not that green, but we're closer than we've been in a many years.

"For awhile there, I thought we were on a pace with 1941," Ted Gray, longtime cowboy and rancher, said. "In '41, we had 36 inches [of rain]."

To date in 2007, we've had 16.53 inches, most of which has come in the past three months. "Although we started out a bit slow this year, we caught up," Gray said.

Looking back at 1941, Gray said, "We had grass that was knee high, and all the creeks were running high and wide."

"At that time," he said, "our mountain creeks ran clear water all year long. We had a lot of underground springs feeding those creeks. ... Grass was knee high, grass was on the ridges.

"But during the drought of the '50s, most of those creeks disappeared; the underground springs dried up ... and haven't really come back."

"A lot of people say we're out of [that drought]," Gray added. "But I don't agree. When those springs come back, then I'll say we're out of the drought."

Gray is hopeful that might happen, particularly if the rains continue through the end of the year. The trend is good: in 2005, the official rainfall was 23.93 inches; in 2004, it was 30.88. The total dropped significantly in 2006 - to 18.02, but we appear well on our way to breaking back into the 20- or 30-inch range in 2007.

He's also looking forward to September. "You can make a lot of grass in 20 days when the temperatures cool a bit - and we get some of those fall rains."

As for the finished product, Gray said, "I think we have the strongest grass you'll find anywhere" for cattle. He adds, though, that for a variety of reasons - such as the great sell-off of the '50s - we don't have nearly as many cattle as we used to.

Most Big Benders know that increased rains bring out the mosquitoes. Gray points out that there are also increased animal populations to consider. Some of that's good, such as more quail and antelope. Some, such as snakes, it simply depends on what floats your boat.

"When it rains, the water fills up the sinkholes where the rattlesnakes have gone," he said. "Then they start moving to the surface; some even move into the trees."

So, there you have it: The Alpine area is painted in marvelous green hues, which should be appreciated, and the cattle are fat and happy. Just watch out for those snakes and mosquitoes.