About That Water Crossing:
Flood Waters in the
Texas Hill Country

The idea of a water crossing is a foreign one to most folks who don't live in Central Texas, but they are as common here as armadillos.

There are creeks here, there, and everywhere; sometimes they flow, and in times of drought, they're dry. And when they the creeks are running, if you're on one side of the water, and you want to be on the other side, you're going to need some sort of water crossing.

Putting a bridge over every single creek would be cost-prohibitive, besides being unnecessary much of the time.

Rivers and creeks mostly run shallow here, and some very clever person came up with the idea of combining a small dam with a road. There's usually a culvert of some sort underneath to allow the flow of some water, but the water crossing/dam slows it down quite a bit.

This technique creates a watering hole for livestock AND a way for wagons, and now motor vehicles, to get from one side of the river to the other.

It's considered bad form to totally block a creek to make yourself a pond.

I used to think it was also illegal; in Texas, if you wish to divert any water from a river (other than watering livestock or for household use), you have to get permission from every single entity downstream, all to way to the Gulf of Mexico.

But an "intermittant creek" - one that only flows sometimes - is in a different category. It's legal to keep all the water for yourself.

It's just not very neighborly.

The people downstream count on that water, too. The native trees in the watersheds take hold where they do because of the availability of water. To deny them can be a death sentence.

But... back to water crossings...

In wet years, you may encounter low water crossings, as they are also known, on anything from caliche roads, private paved roads, or county roads, to state highways.

They are usually calm and very easy to maneuver.

You can see this crossing is quite peaceful: shallow water, flowing gently. Safe for cars, careful on motorcycle, walk bike across (check for slippery algae).

This is probably OK to cross. Notice you can see the road through the water - most likely 4 or 5 inches deep.

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! The water is deep and is moving very fast; the flood gauge has washed away, and the water is probably still close to a foot deep.

Take a look at the flood gauge at the side of the road to check the depth of the water. If there is no gauge, look for wet tracks on the other side of the crossing. At least you'll know that someone got through.

I don't recommend making water crossings deeper than about 6 inches if you don't know what you're doing, and especially in a little sedan with not much clearance.

When there is a lot of water - in a storm, or even after a big one has has come though the hill country - it is absolutely crucial to respect the power of the water.

Water crossings can look like they're a few inches deep, and in truth can be flowing hard and fast over what used to be pavement. Did I mention how helpful it is if you can see the asphalt through the water that's crossing the road?

When it's storming at night, you must be especially attentive. Keep your eyes on those stripes on the road: if they disappear, that's almost certainly a sign of flood waters. Look for a gauge or at least a mailbox to estimate water depth before going further.

If you decide it will be safe to take the water crossing, use a low gear, pick a target on the other side, and head for it. Try not to have to brake or gun the engine; just calmly cross with full attention.

If the water is higher than you're comfortable with, and you have a REAL emergency, pull out that cell phone and call 9-1-1. Fire and Rescue wil come get you.

They'll even use a helicopter if you're really "up a creek."

But if there's no emergency, make sure you are on high ground, then chill out and just wait. The water WILL go down at some point.

I always carry an umbrella in my vehicle, and recently I was glad I also had a book.

I had come through torrential rains on the way home from Austin. When I got to a water crossing that is usually running after a heavy rain, I was surprised to see the flood gauge at 3 1/2 feet... and still rising.

Unfortunately, I was on one side of the water crossing, and home was on the other.

Too bad.

Waiting was my only sensible option.

The creek got as high as four feet over the road before it started receding, then the level came down pretty quickly.

I got home pretty late that night, but I now have quite an adventure story to tell about the water crossing on Boardhouse Creek.

So, to sum up:

Water Crossing Safety Tips

Try to estimate water depth before crossing.

Even if the water is shallow, if it's moving real fast, it can still lift and carry away your vehicle (and you).

If the water is too deep, or running too fast, wait 'til it goes down.

If you have an emergency and need help, call 9-1-1. If you don't have a phone, or if you can't get a good signal, it's likely that the Fire and Rescue folks will find you anyway. They check the crossings on the main roads when there is flooding.

If the water is at risky levels, but instead of being sensible, you decide you must cross anyway, at least roll down all your windows. Then, if you get caught up in the flow of the water crossing, you'll have a better chance of getting the door open to escape from your vehicle.

If you are unsure about the situation, wait. Listen to the radio. Sing all your favorite tunes. Meditate. Read a book.

Please don't let your impatience jeopardize the life and health of your passengers, or yourself.

Respect the power of the water crossing.

Lifesaving.com
Hey, I found a water crossing article that's a lot more scientific than mine!

Blanco, Texas Weather
Don't let the Blanco, Texas weather discourage you; just make sure you're prepared for it.

Blanco Water Issues
You may hear a lot of horror stories about Texas water issues, especially in the rural areas; these are things we've not had to deal with in Blanco until recent years.

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