SILVER LAKE RANCH- RICHARD SMITH, OPERATOR   ROBERT E. ELLEDGE JR., COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT ROBERT K. LYONS, EXTENSION RANGE SPECIALIST WEST NUECES - LAS MORAS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT     BRACKETTVILLE - KINNEY COUNTY- PRECINCT 3   SUMMARY The ability of the Edwards Aquifer to continue to supply adequate amounts of quality water to this region of Texas is being heavily taxed.  Most projections show that unless we can both limit our consumption of Edwards Aquifer groundwater, and increase recharge to the aquifer, water usage demand will not be met.   PROBLEM Ashe Juniper has been documented through research activities as bing a type of brush which utilizes large quantities of water through evapotranspiration.  The growth habit of the plant lends itself to intercepting large quantities of water that never become available for herbaceous plant growth.  Ashe Juniper shades other plants to the point where they simply will not grow or are severely stressed.   OBJECTIVES A possible solution to increasing recharge to the Edwards Aquifer is by the control of cedar (Ashe Juniper) in the Edwards Region.  Since Silver Lake Ranch is heavily infested with cedar and is located entirely in the Edwards Aquifer region, it offers a valuable opportunity to study the possible result that can be expected from cedar control and/or management.  Increased water yield available for recharge to the aquifer is the primary goal to this study.   MATERIALS AND METHODS Individual treedozing and chaining of Ashe Juniper will be conducted in several pastures on the Silver Lake Ranch during the calendar years 1999 and 2000 for the purpose of reducing the amount of water being utilized by noxious brush and to stimulate the growth of native herbaceous vegetation.  Measurements of the degree of soil erosion will be collected prior to and after the brush management practices have been applied.  While some data currently exists, very little data of this type has been collected within this rainfall region of Texas.   RESULTS Plots have been selected on similar range sites with similar slopes, aspects and soils on which to collect the previously mentioned data.  Permanent line transects will be established in order to gather data including percent canopy of brush species, type and amount of herbaceous cover, percent bare ground, percent of plant litter and percent of rock.  These line transects will be monitored prior to and after the brush management practices have been applied in order to document the change in plant composition over time.  Plots along the transects will be monitored periodically throughout the field trial period.   A portable drip type rainfall simulator will be used to collect infiltration, runoff and sediment produced from selected plots within the treatment area.  Data will be collected before and after planned treatments.  Rainfall will be applied at a rate between 4 and 5 inches/hour for on hour.  Specific vegetative data within each plot including type of cover and percent canopy cover by type of plant will also be documented.   ECONOMIC ANALYSIS Economic data will be incorporated in the results to attempt to analyze the costs associated with brush management versus the impact of reduced water consumption by Ashe Juniper and the overall impact on the rangeland from reduced undesirable species.   CONCLUSIONS Percent infiltration, percent runoff and sediment production will be determined for each plot selected both prior to and after brush treatments have been applied.  Progress reports will be make available annually and data from this study will be used to inform the agricultural community in this area of expected benefits and costs involved in the management of Ashe Juniper.  This study will also attempt to provide information on how much additional recharge to the Edwards Aquifer can be achieved through the control and/or management of Ashe Juniper.   During 1999 the rainfall simulator was not used to measure the above mentioned areas prior to brush removal applications being done. The rainfall simulator will be setup in 2000 in area’s adjacent to the treated sites.  At the present time brush control applications are being implemented and we are waiting for practices to be completed to measure runoff, infiltration and sediment after the removal of Ashe Juniper.   ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Kinney County Extension Office would like to thank the Ranch Operator- Richard Smith and the West Nueces-Las Moras Soil & Water Conservation District for their contributions in this demonstration.