Brazos River

Introduction

    The Brazos River, which is located about 5 minutes away from Post, is the longest river in Texas and also the one with the most discharge. The river flows calmly through this region, but in other regions has quite dangerous rapids. The river rises at the confluence of its Salt Fork and Double Mountain Fork near the eastern boundary of Stonewall County and runs 840 miles across Texas to its mouth on the Gulf Of Mexico. The two forks emerge from the Caprock 150 miles above the confluence, thus forming a continuous watershed 1,050 miles long, which extends from New Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico and comprises Texas and the one with the greatest discharge.

History

    It also has some what of an interesting history. The river was first called Tokonohono by the Caddoan linguistic group of Indians. The name was preserved by Rene Robert Cavelier, a famous explorer. The Brazos is also widely identified as the river Sieur de La Salle named Maligne. In 1716 Isidro Felix de Espinosa and Domingo Ramon probably called the Brazos la Trinidad, but the present name was established well before the end of the Spanish period. The full name is Los Brazos de Dios, which is translated into the Arms of God.  Although the Brazos played a big part with the Spanish explorers, it was first settled by John McFarland, a member of the Old Three Hundred. The Brazos also played a role in the civil war.

Animals of the Brazos

    The Brazos River is home to a wide variety of animals. The river is a habitat to an arrangement of amphibians, and fish. The most common reptiles at the river are snakes, and home to poisonous snakes. There are rattlesnakes, water moccasins, corral snakes, copperhead rattlesnakes, and many more. These snakes are deadly, they leave many in the hospital, and sometimes even kill. Attempts to preserve the Brazos have even been protested against by animal rights activists because of fear that they may endanger animals. Although they are deadly, they are necessary for the completion of the circle of life in this area.

Recreation

    The Brazos stretches nearly entirely through Texas. It is a great scenic view and is commonly used for fishing, canoeing, water rafting, and camping. It is a huge attraction and tourist site all over Texas.

Rainfall

    The annual rainfall the Brazos gains is around 17 inches, but in other counties it has been up to 34 inches of rain. The extra water causes flooding, which destroys property, and even kill. As much as 1.25 million dollars of damage can be done, and have killed up to 30 people.

Preserving for our Future

    The Brazos is being taken care of through a complex plan called the Regional Water Plans. The regional water plans will provide for orderly development, management, and conservation of water resources, including drought preparation and response. The goal of the planning process is to assure that sufficient water will be available at a reasonable cost to ensure public health, safety, and welfare, to further economic development, and to protect agricultural and natural resources.

Conclusion

    As you can infer, the Brazos River has been an important resource in the past and so continues on into the future.