Ranches along the Middle Concho River and Spring Creek in Irion County spent Thursday watching the sky. The National Weather Service in San Angelo issued a Flood Watch for Irion County and four neighbors, with Mertzon named in the warning area and 2 to 4 inches of rain likely through Friday afternoon. Lee, Lee & Puckitt, a San Angelo ranch brokerage founded in 1962, has gathered the forecast and the best preparation advice in one place for Irion County landowners.
The Forecast
The watch ran from 11 a.m. Oct. 29 until 4 p.m. Oct. 30 and covered Irion, Crockett, Kimble, Schleicher and Sutton counties. Forecasters warned that excessive runoff could flood rivers, creeks, streams and low lying ground, and that isolated totals could reach 6 inches or more. That kind of rain on hard, dry ground runs off fast, and the Middle Concho drainage sends it toward Tom Green County quickly.
Advice From AgriLife’s Disaster Unit
Ahead of an earlier statewide storm system in late September, Monty Dozier, program director for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Disaster Assessment and Recovery Unit, laid out a checklist that fits this week in Irion County well:
- Move cattle away from creeks and low lying pastures before the rain arrives.
- Move equipment to higher ground.
- Move hay away from creeks so it stays dry and reachable.
- Check other feed stores for flood risk.
- Confirm insurance is current, and keep photos and tag numbers of livestock.
Dozier also noted that dry soil cannot absorb heavy rain fast enough, which raises the flash flood risk even in places that badly need the water. Floodwater can carry chemicals from barns and shops downstream, so it pays to put fuel, fertilizer and pesticides up high.
After the Water Goes Down
Once the rain passes, check pastures for debris, look for missing or damaged fences, and pay close attention to water gaps where livestock could walk out. Fence corners in draws often take the worst of it. If you suffer losses, AgriLife Extension can do on site damage assessments, the Texas Department of Agriculture’s STAR Fund offers help, and livestock losses can be reported to the USDA Farm Service Agency. Time stamped photos or video make every one of those steps easier.
What It Means for Irion County Land
River and creek frontage is one of the most valued features on an Irion County ranch, and buyers want to see how a place handles a big rain. Good crossings, well placed pens and water gaps that hold up are part of what separates a well kept ranch from one that needs work. Rain like this also refills stock tanks, which can help a property show well into winter and spring.
Thinking About Buying or Selling?
Lee, Lee & Puckitt knows the country between Mertzon, Barnhart and Sherwood. To talk about a ranch in Irion County, call 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Irion County Flood Watch expire? The National Weather Service watch ran until 4 p.m. CDT on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. Check weather.gov/sjt for any newer alerts.
Should cattle be moved before heavy rain? AgriLife Extension recommends moving cattle away from creeks and low lying areas and moving hay and equipment to higher ground before a storm.
Where can ranchers get help after flood losses? AgriLife Extension damage assessments, the Texas Department of Agriculture STAR Fund, and the USDA Farm Service Agency for livestock indemnity claims.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Founded in Bronte in 1962 and based in San Angelo since 1977, Lee, Lee & Puckitt is a farm and ranch real estate firm whose partners are ranchers. The company lists land in Texas and New Mexico and performs ranch appraisals and BPOs.
Sources
- National Weather Service San Angelo, Flood Watch issued Oct. 29, 2026
- KBTX, “Potential flooding prompts livestock safety warnings,” Sept. 30, 2026 (interview with AgriLife Extension’s Monty Dozier)
- Related: Current listings, Contact
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Irion_county_courthouse_2014.jpg). Cropped.
