There's a one-stop shop featuring real-time data on streamflow, reservoir elevation, and rainfall in a map-based, gage-system format covering the entire Brazos River Basin.

BrazosBasinNOW is the Brazos River Authority's River and Reservoir information webpage and it's available for use by the public. The BRA's Water Supply System is everchanging — the Brazos River, its tributaries and the reservoirs that lie within the Brazos River basin can fluctuate at any time. For those who live near or partake in recreational activities on the river and its reservoirs, having access to updated information is vital for staying safe.

The site is a great place to bookmark if you want to see how much it rained over the weekend at a particular spot on the Brazos or see how much water is headed your way from upstream. 

Thinking about taking a kayak trip below Possum Kingdom Lake? The Streamflow section shows you how quickly, or slowly, the water is moving. 

Want to see how high or low a reservoir in the Brazos Basin may be to determine if you can take your boat out?

In the event of flooding, you can turn to this site for prompt information about current flood conditions for several gage sites along the Brazos and its tributaries. You can also find predictions for when flood stages could be reached and when the water is expected to crest and recede.

BrazosBasinNOW connects you to these resources as well as where you can find additional information with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the National Weather Service and more about streamflow, reservoirs and rainfall. 

There are three main sections of BrazosBasinNOW: Streamflow, Reservoirs, and Rainfall.

Streamflow

Depending on current flows and water levels, there are areas on the Brazos River, such as sandbars, where you can camp without venturing on private property. But, a sudden rise in river levels can send belongings downriver and can be dangerous. The river can rise very quickly during high flows, exposing the unsuspecting paddler to other hazards, such as logs. While Texas' weather is impossible to precisely predict, streamflow data can indicate how fast the water is moving, giving you some warning as to what to expect and where to expect it.

The streamflow section of BrazosBasinNOW allows you to view river flows in areas where USGS gages are placed throughout the basin. Clicking on the Streamflow box brings you to a map of the basin showing green dots at each gage location and the streamflow value at a glance. If you click on a green dot, a box will pop up and show you a graph format of how the streamflow amount has changed over a period of time. There are several options from there, including direct links to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hydrologic Prediction Service graphics with the latest forecast from the West Gulf River Forecast Center. You have the option to change the format for better viewing.

The stream gages record flow rates in cubic feet per second, and the gage height, which U.S. Geological Survey uses to calculate the flow rate. Gage height is not an indication of water depth at each location.

Reservoirs

If 1" of rain falls, how much does the lake rise?

Lake elevation isn't affected the way the rain gauge in your backyard might be. The amount of runoff and subsequent rise in lake levels depends on several hydrologic and geographic factors, such as where the rain falls, its intensity, and the infiltration and storage capacity of the surface the rain falls upon.

BrazosBasinNOW can help you with that. 

The site provides detailed information on each of the 11 reservoirs within the BRA's Water Supply System: lakes Possum Kingdom, Granbury, Proctor, Whitney, Aquilla, Limestone, Belton, Stillhouse Hollow, Georgetown, Granger, and Somerville. From the home page, you can click on the Reservoir section, which will take you to a map similar to that under streamflows.

Each gage – indicated by green dots - provides the reservoir's elevation level at a glance. By clicking on the individual gage, sensor data also provides the reservoir's drawdown and storage capacity over time.

Rainfall

Once again, the rainfall section of BrazosBasinNOW provides green gage dots for the USGS gages that measure rainfall. Each visually indicates the amount of rainfall in the area. Additional rainfall information is available by clicking on each gage then selecting the drop-down menu for that site. BrazosBasinNOW also provides rainfall gage readings for locations across the basin and rainfall estimates in the watersheds around the three water supply reservoirs owned and operated by the BRA lakes: Possum Kingdom, Granbury, and Limestone.

On the right side of the page, there's an option to customize the information. For instance, if you only wanted to see the rain that's occurred over the past hour, you can choose that. Or, if you'd like to see how much rain fell over the past week, there's an option for that as well.

There's a wealth of information available at your fingertips in an easy-to-read format. If you have any questions about the site or how to find something, please send us an email at information@brazos.org. 

With BrazosBasinNOW, it's easier than ever for the public to have access to real-time water data so that everyone can make informed decisions and learn more about the environment around them.