White River (Texas)
Encyclopedia
The White River is an intermittent stream in the South Plains
of Texas
and a tributary of the Brazos River
of the United States. It rises 8 miles (12.9 km) west of Floydada
in southwestern Floyd County at the confluence of Callahan and Runningwater Draws. From there, it runs southeast for 62 miles (99.8 km) to its mouth on the Salt Fork of the Brazos River
in northwestern Kent County. Besides these two headwaters, which rise near Hale Center
and in Curry County, New Mexico
, respectively, other tributaries include Pete, Crawfish, and Davidson Creeks. The White River drains an area of 1690 sq mi (4,377.1 km²).
The river runs through Blanco Canyon
, which it carved as it descends from the Llano Estacado
. On October 9, 1871, Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie
fought Quanah Parker
in the Battle of Blanco Canyon
on the river.
South of the canyon, in far southeastern Crosby County, it was dammed
in 1963 to create a lake, the White River Reservoir, which provides water for the towns of Post
, Spur
, Crosbyton
, and Ralls
.
The river was known to Spanish hunters and traders in Eastern New Mexico
long before Anglo
settlers arrived; the Spanish named the river Blanco (Spanish word for "white"), which it shares with the canyon and which has been anglicized to the present name. The river has also been called the "Blanco Fork of Brazos River" or the "White Fork of Brazos River."
Local anecdotes suggest the river level has been steadily declining due to local pumping
and depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer
: "you could catch fish in it until 1955.... Today the water is 80 feet down."
crosses the White River, a roadside rest area with facilities and hiking trails is maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation
. The central focal point of this park is Silver Falls where a spring-fed White River used to cascade over sandstone ledges. Springs that once flowed into the White River issued from the Ogallala Aquifer
, which has been heavily tapped by the numerous farming operations on the Llano Estacado
. According to annual depth to water level measurements obtained by the High Plains Underground Water District, the water table beneath the Llano Estacado
has declined at a rate of -0.8 ft per year over the last decade. Over the twenty-year period from 1987 to 2007, the water table dropped a total of 18.6 ft (5.7 m) across the District. As a result of this depletion, the once gushing springs along this stretch of the White River have either dried completely or have been reduced to seeps. Lacking a steady base flow, the White River has ceased to flow and, today, Silver Falls is normally dry unless a strong thunderstorm happens to pass across the watershed.
South Plains
South Plains is a vernacular term that refers to a region in West Texas consisting of the portion of the Llano Estacado extending south of the Texas Panhandle, centered at Lubbock. While prominent in the area of petroleum production, the South Plains is mainly an agricultural region, producing a...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and a tributary of the Brazos River
Brazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
of the United States. It rises 8 miles (12.9 km) west of Floydada
Floydada, Texas
Floydada is a city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,038 at the 2010 census.-History:According to the Texas State Historical Association, the community of Floydada, originally named Floyd City, was established on 640 acres of land donated by James B....
in southwestern Floyd County at the confluence of Callahan and Runningwater Draws. From there, it runs southeast for 62 miles (99.8 km) to its mouth on the Salt Fork of the Brazos River
Brazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
in northwestern Kent County. Besides these two headwaters, which rise near Hale Center
Hale Center, Texas
Hale Center is a city in Hale County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,263 at the 2000 census. Hale Center is near the county seat of Plainview.Hale Center is located at ....
and in Curry County, New Mexico
Curry County, New Mexico
Curry County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The population was approximately 45,044 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Clovis. It is named in honor of George Curry, territorial governor of New Mexico from 1907 to 1910...
, respectively, other tributaries include Pete, Crawfish, and Davidson Creeks. The White River drains an area of 1690 sq mi (4,377.1 km²).
The river runs through Blanco Canyon
Blanco Canyon
Blanco Canyon is a canyon located in the U.S. state of Texas. Eroded by the White River into the Caprock Escarpment on the east side of the Llano Estacado, the canyon runs for in a southeasterly direction, gradually widening from its beginning in southwestern Floyd County to across at its mouth...
, which it carved as it descends from the Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado , commonly known as the Staked Plains, is a region in the Southwestern United States that encompasses parts of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas, including the South Plains and parts of the Texas Panhandle...
. On October 9, 1871, Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie
Ranald S. Mackenzie
Ranald Slidell Mackenzie was a career United States Army officer and general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, described by General Ulysses S. Grant as its most promising young officer...
fought Quanah Parker
Quanah Parker
Quanah Parker was a Comanche chief, a leader in the Native American Church, and the last leader of the powerful Quahadi band before they surrendered their battle of the Great Plains and went to a reservation in Indian Territory...
in the Battle of Blanco Canyon
Battle of Blanco Canyon
The Battle of Blanco Canyon was the decisive battle of Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie's initial campaign against the Comanche in West Texas, and marked the first time the Comanches had been attacked in the heart of their homeland. It marked the end of Comanche control over the heart of their...
on the river.
South of the canyon, in far southeastern Crosby County, it was dammed
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
in 1963 to create a lake, the White River Reservoir, which provides water for the towns of Post
Post, Texas
Post is a city in and the county seat of Garza County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,708 at the 2000 census.There are many ranchers and civic boosters in Garza County, among them Giles McCrary, a former mayor who operates the OS Museum, a hybrid of exhibits from both the American West...
, Spur
Spur, Texas
Spur is a city in Dickens County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,088.On October 9, 2009, Spur celebrated its centennial with the dedication of a Giant Spur sculpture. The Giant Spur was built by local welder John Grusendorf. The event, sponsored...
, Crosbyton
Crosbyton, Texas
Crosbyton is a city in and the county seat of Crosby County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,874 at the 2000 census. Crosbyton is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and Ralls
Ralls, Texas
Ralls is an agricultural community in Crosby County, West Texas, United States, named after John Robinson Ralls, who, with the help of W.E. McLaughlin, laid out the townsite in July 1911...
.
The river was known to Spanish hunters and traders in Eastern New Mexico
Eastern New Mexico
Eastern New Mexico is a region of the U.S. state of New Mexico. The region is sometimes termed the "High Plains" or even "Little Texas". The region is largely coterminous with the Llano Estacado. Eastern New Mexico is generally located at an altitude of over 4,000 feet and is mostly characterized...
long before Anglo
Anglo
Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to the Angles, England or the English people, as in the terms Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-American, Anglo-Celtic, Anglo-African and Anglo-Indian. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to people of British Isles descent in The Americas, Australia and...
settlers arrived; the Spanish named the river Blanco (Spanish word for "white"), which it shares with the canyon and which has been anglicized to the present name. The river has also been called the "Blanco Fork of Brazos River" or the "White Fork of Brazos River."
Local anecdotes suggest the river level has been steadily declining due to local pumping
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
and depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer
Ogallala Aquifer
The Ogallala Aquifer, also known as the High Plains Aquifer, is a vast yet shallow underground water table aquifer located beneath the Great Plains in the United States...
: "you could catch fish in it until 1955.... Today the water is 80 feet down."
Silver Falls
Where U.S. Route 82U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 82 is an east–west United States highway in the southern United States. What started as a 1932 addition to the system across central Mississippi and southern Arkansas eventually became a 1,609 mile route extending from the White Sands of New Mexico to Georgia's Atlantic coast.The...
crosses the White River, a roadside rest area with facilities and hiking trails is maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
. The central focal point of this park is Silver Falls where a spring-fed White River used to cascade over sandstone ledges. Springs that once flowed into the White River issued from the Ogallala Aquifer
Ogallala Aquifer
The Ogallala Aquifer, also known as the High Plains Aquifer, is a vast yet shallow underground water table aquifer located beneath the Great Plains in the United States...
, which has been heavily tapped by the numerous farming operations on the Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado , commonly known as the Staked Plains, is a region in the Southwestern United States that encompasses parts of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas, including the South Plains and parts of the Texas Panhandle...
. According to annual depth to water level measurements obtained by the High Plains Underground Water District, the water table beneath the Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado , commonly known as the Staked Plains, is a region in the Southwestern United States that encompasses parts of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas, including the South Plains and parts of the Texas Panhandle...
has declined at a rate of -0.8 ft per year over the last decade. Over the twenty-year period from 1987 to 2007, the water table dropped a total of 18.6 ft (5.7 m) across the District. As a result of this depletion, the once gushing springs along this stretch of the White River have either dried completely or have been reduced to seeps. Lacking a steady base flow, the White River has ceased to flow and, today, Silver Falls is normally dry unless a strong thunderstorm happens to pass across the watershed.
Proper name
The White River has been known by various names in the past, such as the “Blanco Fork of Brazos River” or the “White Fork of Brazos River.” However, according to a 1964 decision by the United States Board on Geographical Names, the proper name for this ephemeral stream is the "White River."See also
- List of rivers of Texas
- Blanco CanyonBlanco CanyonBlanco Canyon is a canyon located in the U.S. state of Texas. Eroded by the White River into the Caprock Escarpment on the east side of the Llano Estacado, the canyon runs for in a southeasterly direction, gradually widening from its beginning in southwestern Floyd County to across at its mouth...
- Mount BlancoMount BlancoMount Blanco is a small white hill — an erosional remnant — located on the eastern border of the Llano Estacado within Blanco Canyon in Crosby County, Texas...
- Yellow House CanyonYellow House CanyonYellow House Canyon is a canyon that is about long, heading in Lubbock, Texas, at the junction of Blackwater Draw and Yellow House Draw, and trending generally southeastward to the edge of the Llano Estacado about east of Slaton, Texas; it forms one of three major canyons along the east side of...
- Double Mountain Fork Brazos RiverDouble Mountain Fork Brazos RiverThe Double Mountain Fork Brazos River is an ephemeral, sandy-braided stream about long, heading on the Llano Estacado of West Texas about southeast of Tahoka, Texas, flowing east-northeast across the western Rolling Plains to join the Salt Fork, forming the Brazos River about west-northwest of...
- Prairie Dog Town Fork Red RiverPrairie Dog Town Fork Red RiverPrairie Dog Town Fork Red River is a sandy-braided stream about long, formed at the confluence of Palo Duro Creek and Tierra Blanca Creek, about northeast of Canyon in Randall County, Texas, and flowing east-southeastward to the Red River about east of the 100th meridian, south-southwest of...