| 1541 |
In search of the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado leads an expedition into the Brazos basin.
|
| |
| 1821 |
Stephen F. Austin obtains
permission from the Spanish Governor of Texas and Coahuila
to explore the country on the Brazos River. Austin is convinced
the land of the Brazos River basin is fertile and begins
plans for colonization.
|
| |
| 1833 |
Major flooding occurs and
the Brazos River leaves its banks from Washington to Ringold's
Prairie (near present-day Navasota). |
| |
| 1836 |
Texas Declaration of Independence
is signed at Washington, below the confluence of the Brazos
and Navasota Rivers. |
| |
| 1842 |
Major flooding occurs and
Brazos leaves its banks from Washington to Navasota and
widens the river to six miles or more for an extended distance.
The side-wheeler Mustang becomes
the first ship to unload cargo at Washington, fueling the
dreams of men desiring to build an empire based on steamboat
transportation. |
| |
| 1848 |
The Brazos Steam Association
forms and purchases two boats for the purpose of navigation
between Washington and the Gulf of Mexico. |
| |
| 1854 |
A canal between the Brazos
River and Port of Galveston is opened. |
| |
| 1867 |
Lt. Col. S. D. Sturgis reports
to the War Department that the water of the Brazos River
is so briny that not even mules will consume it. |
| |
| 1890 |
Col. William Prather discovers oil near Waco.
|
| |
| 1902 |
Leaders from towns and counties
along the river establish the Brazos River Impoundment Association.
The goal of the association is to tame the river. The Association's
efforts are hindered by a lack of financing. |
| |
| 1905 |
The Rivers and Harbors Act
provides funds for the construction of a lock and dam system
between Waco and Washington. Work completed before World
War I was destroyed by the flood of 1913, ending a century-old
dream of a transportation network on the Brazos River. |
| |
| 1913 |
The Guadalupe and Trinity
Rivers leave their banks, and the Brazos River and the Colorado
River join to flood more than 3,000 square miles of land
and cause the deaths of at least 177 people and massive
property damage ($3,436,144 in the Brazos Valley alone).
The flood causes the river to change course. It now enters
the Gulf of Mexico at Freeport. |
| |
| 1915 |
The Brazos River and Valley
Improvement Association is formed in Waco with the goal
of harnessing the Brazos River. The Association's efforts
are hindered by a lack of financing. |
| |
| 1917 |
The Conservation Amendment
to the Texas Constitution is passed. Under its provisions
the control, prevention, and distribution of flood and storm
waters becomes the duty of the state and all limitations
which had prevented local financing of flood control projects
were removed. |
| |
| 1921 |
Major flooding brings death
and destruction of greater magnitude than previously experienced.
The floods of 1913 and 1921 are the catalyst, which causes
the state to attempt to tame the Brazos River. |
| |
| 1923 |
The Texas State Legislature
appropriates funds for a survey of all rivers of the state
and analysis of flood and water problems. The study clearly
established the need for a state agency with the necessary
power to carry out the tasks required to harness and control
the Brazos River. |
| |
| 1929 |
The Brazos River Conservation
and Reclamation District is created under Article XVI, Section
59 of the Texas Constitution, to conserve, control, and
utilize to beneficial service the storm and flood waters
of the Brazos River and its tributary streams.
Lands of the Brazos River basin are producing more than 18 million barrels of oil
a year. Oil becomes the backbone of the economy in many
areas of the Brazos River basin. |
| |
| 1933 |
United States Congress passes
the National Industrial Recovery Act, signaling the beginning
of the New Deal and a commitment by the federal government
to restore the economy through massive spending. Title II
of the act creates the Public Works Administration to make
loans and grants to states and other public bodies in order
to stimulate construction. |
| |
| 1935 |
The District completes its
first Master Plan for reservoir development, including a
total of 13 dams on the Brazos River and its tributaries. |
| |
| 1938 |
The District begins construction
of its first dam and reservoir project,Possum Kingdom, on
the main stem of the Brazos River in Palo Pinto County. |
| |
| 1939 |
The United States Congress
broadens the mandate of the United States Army Corps of
Engineers to include construction of multi-purpose flood
controls and water supply projects. The District completes
a revised Master Plan. |
| |
| 1941 |
The District completes Lake
Possum Kingdom, its first reservoir project. |
| |
| 1951 |
A partnership between the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Brazos River Conservation
and Reclamation District, allows the District to acquire
conservation storage space in the nine multi-purpose Corps'
reservoirs to be constructed over the next 30 years.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes Lake Whitney
on the main stem of the Brazos River in Hill, Bosque, and
Johnson Counties. |
| |
| 1952 |
The Briscoe Irrigation Company
and the Galveston County Water Company file complaints before
the Texas Railroad Commission concerning the salt pollution
caused by oil and gas operations in the upper watershed.
This results in a Railroad Commission investigation of oil
operators and the issuance of pipeline severances when abuses
were not corrected. Little was accomplished by this effort
to purify the waters of the Brazos River. |
| |
| 1952-57 |
Record drought occurs.
Most Texas counties are declared disaster areas. |
| |
| 1954 |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
completes Lake Belton on the Leon River in Bell County. |
| |
| 1955 |
The name of the District is
officially changed to the Brazos River Authority. |
| |
| 1961 |
Texas A&M completes study
and report revealing that salt contamination in the upper
basin is caused by a subterranean outcropping of salt which
is much larger than originally estimated. The salt bed underlies
and contaminates streams in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, and Kansas. |
| |
| 1963 |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes Lake Proctor
on the Leon River in Comanche County.
|
| |
| 1965 |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
completes Lake Waco on the Bosque River in McLennan County. |
| |
| 1966 |
The Authority begins construction of the DeCordova Bend Dam and Lake Granbury in Hood County. |
| |
| 1966-67 |
The Authority acquires
the privately owned American Canal and Briscoe Canal in
the lower basin, as a means of furnishing water to Fort
Bend, Brazoria, and Galveston Counties for rice irrigation,
and industrial and municipal uses. |
| |
| 1967 |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
completes Lake Somerville on Yegua Creek in Burleson and
Washington Counties. |
| |
| 1968 |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
completes Lake Stillhouse Hollow on the Lampasas River in
Bell County. |
| |
| 1969 |
Lake Granbury and DeCordova Bend Dam completed on the
Brazos River in Hood County.
|
| |
| 1971 |
The Authority begins operating
the Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewerage System to treat
wastes from the Cities of Waco, Bellmead, Lacy Lakeview,
and Woodway. The treatment capacity of the plant is 17.8
million gallons per day. |
| |
| 1975 |
The Authority begins operating
the Sugar Land Regional Sewerage System to treat wastes
from the City of Sugar Land, the City of Cities Municipal
Utilities District, the Nalco Chemical Company, and the
Imperial Sugar Company. The treatment capacity of the plant
is 3.9 million gallons per day. |
| |
|
The Authority begins operating
the Temple-Belton Regional Sewerage System with a total
capacity of 5.0 million gallons per day. The system serves
the City of Belton and the western half of the City of Temple. |
| |
| 1978 |
The Authority completes the Sterling C. Robertson Dam,
which impounds the Navasota River to form Lake Limestone,
the Authority's third reservoir project.
|
| |
| 1979 |
The Authority expands the
capacity of the Sugar Land Regional Sewerage System to 6.5
million gallons per day. |
| |
| 1980 |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
completes Lake Granger on the San Gabriel River and Lake
Georgetown on the North Fork San Gabriel River, both are
in Williamson County. |
| |
| 1983 |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
completes Lake Aquilla on Aquilla and Hackberry Creeks in
Hill County. |
| |
| 1985 |
The Authority completes the expansion
and improvement of the Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewerage
System. The new plant uses an activated sludge process and
has a treatment capacity of 38.5 million gallons per day. |
| |
| 1986 |
The Authority obtains an option from
the Houston Lighting & Power Company (now Reliant Energy)
to acquire the Allens Creek reservoir site. |
| |
| 1988 |
The Authority sells American Canal
and Briscoe Canal to Galveston County Water Authority. |
| |
| 1989 |
The Authority begins operating the
Lake Granbury Surface Water and Treatment System in Hood
County. |
| |
| 1990 |
The Authority expands the Temple-Belton
Regional Sewerage System. |
| |
| 1991 |
The Authority contracts with the
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission to carry
out the Clean Rivers Program within the Brazos River basin.
Major floods occur in the central
part of the basin due to recurring thunderstorms.
The Authority begins the Volunteer
Citizens' Monitoring Program to enhance the public's
knowledge
of local water quality issues, to increase community involvement,
and to improve communication among all parties.
The Authority creates the University
Intern Program to provide opportunities for undergraduate
and graduate students in the Brazos River basin to acquire
practical experience in different aspects of water quality
projects. |
| |
| 1992 |
The Authority enters into a Memorandum
of Understanding with the United States Department of Agriculture
Soil Conservation Services (now the Natural Resources Conservation
Service) for cooperative water quality efforts in the Brazos
River basin. |
| |
| 1994 |
The Authority completes its fourth
reservoir project, Lake Alan Henry in Garza and Kent Counties,
to serve the City of Lubbock. |
| |
| 1995 |
The Authority enters into the Brazos-Colorado
Water Alliance with the Lower Colorado River Authority,
primarily to address water and wastewater issues in the
rapidly growing Williamson County area.
The Authority begins managing operations
at the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System in Williamson
County.
Major flooding occurs in the central
part of the basin due to recurring thunderstorms.
|
| |
| 1996 |
The Authority initiates the Basin Monitoring
Program, a strategic, basinwide water quality data collection
effort.
|
| |
| 1997 |
The Authority, along with the USDA-NRCS,
the TNRCC, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas
Institute for Applied Environmental Research, the City of
Waco, and the City of Clifton collaborated with the U.S.
Corps of Engineers to conduct the Middle Brazos Reconnaissance
Study. The ecological health of the North Bosque River watershed
and other watersheds in the middle Brazos River basin was
assessed to determine the natural resources lost due to
changes in land use and restorative measures appropriate
for the area. |
| |
| 1998 |
Tropical Storm Charley affected the
Lower Brazos River watershed. Most of the flooding occurred
in in the Rio Grande River basin causing 13 deaths and $50
million in damages.
A major flood event occurs in Central
Texas after 30 inches of rainfall in a few hours. The Little
River experiences the fifth largest discharge in its history.
Flooding also occurs in the South Fork San Gabriel watershed,
and the Mill Creek watershed. Property damage of $750 million
and 29 deaths were reported primarily in the Colorado and
Guadalupe river basins. |
| |
| 1999 |
The Authority assumes operation of
the City of Hutto's wastewater treatment plant. The project
is a joint effort of the Brazos-Colorado Water Alliance
and the city.
The Authority exercises its option
to purchase the Allens Creek reservoir site from Reliant
Energy.
The Authority contracts with the EPA
to conduct the Brazos/Navasota Watershed Management Project,
a multi-phase approach to water quality management, with
a twofold objective of proactively protecting water quality
while supporting economic development.
|
| |
| 2000 |
Authority staff participating in the
Middle Brazos Feasibility Study, Phase II of the U.S. Corps
of Engineers Middle Brazos Study, conduct pre-construction
analysis of possible remediation measures, such as wetlands,
reforestation, and conservation easements, to improve water
quality and aquatic habitat.
The Authority contracts with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC)
to perform the Clean Rivers water quality monitoring program in
the basin.
As part of Texas Senate Bill 1, the Authority joins
the Brazos G Regional Water Planning Group as administrative agent.
The Authority begins replacement of the flood gates of the Morris
Sheppard Dam at Possum Kingdom Lake. The project will last nine
years. At the same time, the Authority begins rehabilitation of
the 16 gates at the DeCordova Bend Dam at Lake Granbury. The
rehab included the installation of new electric gate hoists.
The Authority begins operations for the Clute/Richwood Regional
Wastewater System.
|
| |
| 2001 |
Construction of a new Central Office building
in Waco is completed. The Authority, along with the Lower Colorado River
Authority, opens the Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant. The 4.0 million
gallon per day plant provides potable drinking water to the City of Leander
and surrounding areas.
|
| |
| 2002 |
The Authority purchases the Kerr-McGee pipeline.
The 57-mile pipeline, now dubbed the West Central Brazos Water Distribution
System, had once been used to transport water for oil drilling will now serve
as a means to provide water to areas of west Texas.
The Authority and Poseidon
Resources sign a Memorandum of Understanding to evaluate the possibility of a
large-scale seawater desalination project.
The Authority contracts with the
Lee County Fresh Water Supply District Number 1 for its first retail water
and wastewater utility service. Some 150 homes and businesses in the city
of Dimebox receive both potable water and wastewater treatment services.
|
| |
| 2003 |
The Authority signs a major contract with
the City of Georgetown to become the wastewater treatment services
provider for the city's six treatment plants.
The Authority receives
grant funding from the Texas Water Development Board to study the
feasibility of a seawater desalination project.
The Authority sells
the Waco Metropolitan Sewerage Plant (WMARSS) to the customer cities.
|
| |
| 2004 |
The Brazos River Authority purchases a
potable water drinking plant from the City of Taylor beginning
a $14 million expansion of the plant.
|
| |
| 2005 |
The Authority transferred ownership and
operational responsibilities for Lake Alan Henry to the
City of Lubbock. The transfer of bond holdings successfully
completed the contract between the City and the Authority for
completion of a water supply lake for the city.
|
| |
| 2006 |
The Authority begins operation of
the Williamson County Raw Water Line between Lake Stillhouse
Hollow and Lake Georgetown.
|
| |
|
