Last rain barrel going dry.     Photo: Brax - VPC

The drought which wrecked havok on farmers who needed irrigation water earlier this decade was starting to become more familiar. Since the floods of 2006 and the wet winter of 2006-2007 our region has been in a mini-drought.

Recreational areas such as Elephant Butte Lake have not recovered from those early droughts and if it weren't for the near record snow fall in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and basin the Rio Grande would once again be diminished and farmers would not have a full allotment as they do this summer.

Some feel that rain barrels are out dated. But, most Upper Valley residents know that well water usually is high in salts and minerals that are sometimes too alkaline for indoor or outdoor plants to thrive.

For this reason, familes have used rain barrels to supplement the water used for keeping their plants and flowers growing strong.

Rain water also keeps plants from wilting as the temperatures soar. We have recorded a bountiful crop of pansy blossoms from October to mid-May.

Water woes are predicted as this region is in a large area of West Texas that will likely have a severe drought. Drought Threat Predicted for Region.

Prepared by UVB staff.

(Photos: Brax - Valley Publishing Company)

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