A late October morning storm turned into a flash flood warning for Colorado City on Oct. 30, and the runoff is now showing up in Mitchell County’s two reservoirs. The National Weather Service office in Midland issued the warning for Mitchell, Howard and Scurry counties after 1 to 1.5 inches fell and flash flooding was already under way. Lee, Lee & Puckitt (LLP Ranchland), the San Angelo-based ranch Broker that serves Mitchell County, checked the latest lake levels and ranch conditions to see where things stand heading into winter.
What Happened on Oct. 30
The warning ran from 10:08 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Central time. By 11:43 a.m., the weather service said 1 to 1.5 inches of rain had fallen and flash flooding was occurring. Places named in the warning included Colorado City, Loraine, Westbrook, Lake Colorado City, Lake Colorado City State Park and Champion Creek Reservoir.
Rain that heavy in a short window does more for creeks and tanks than for deep soil moisture, since this country sheds water fast.
Where the Reservoirs Stand
Water Data for Texas figures for Nov. 4 show modest gains:
- Champion Creek Reservoir was 45.3 percent full, holding 18,816 of 41,580 acre-feet. That is up from 42.6 percent a month ago and 39.3 percent six months ago. A year ago it was also at 42.6 percent.
- Lake Colorado City was 53.2 percent full, holding 16,362 of 30,758 acre-feet. That is up slightly from 52.6 percent a week ago and 53.0 percent a month ago, though still below the 57.3 percent it held three months ago.
Neither lake is near full, but holding steady through the fall and gaining a few points on Champion Creek is a welcome direction.
What the Rain Means for Ranches
For cattle and wildlife, runoff refreshes stock tanks, winter wheat and oats get a better start, and cool-season forbs can green up. Ranchers running cows on native grass will still want a plan for winter supplement, since one storm does not make up for a long dry stretch.
Cotton farmers saw the other side of the coin. Late season rain slows harvest and can hurt fiber quality on open bolls. Farm and ranch operations that do both will be juggling field work and cattle work at the same time this month.
There was no burn ban in Mitchell County as of Nov. 4, according to Texas A&M Forest Service data compiled by BurnBanTexas. That can change quickly as grass cures and wind picks up, so check before burning.
Deer Season Opens Nov. 7
Mitchell County is in TPWD’s North Zone. The general whitetail season runs Nov. 7, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027, with a late youth and special late season Jan. 4 through 17. The limit is five deer, no more than two bucks. Fresh water in tanks helps hold game on a place.
The Land Market in Mitchell County
Mitchell County sits in land market area 7 of the Texas Real Estate Research Center, along with Fisher, Jones, Nolan, Runnels, Scurry and Taylor counties, in the center’s West Texas region. That region averaged a record $3,008 an acre in the second quarter of 2026, up 14.29 percent from a year earlier, with 533 sales and a typical tract of 409 acres. The center described the statewide market as flat over the quarter, with cautious buyers and a gap between some sellers’ expectations and what buyers will pay.
In Mitchell County, value turns on dependable water, highway access, farm ground with a good production history and hunting quality. Land near Lake Colorado City or Champion Creek has its own appeal for recreation. A current market analysis built on recent comparable sales gives owners a much better guide than a regional average.
Talk With a Mitchell County Ranch Broker
If you are considering a sale, buying land near Colorado City or need a value for estate planning, Lee, Lee & Puckitt can help with local sales data and real ranch experience. Call 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How full is Lake Colorado City? Water Data for Texas showed Lake Colorado City at 53.2 percent full on Nov. 4, 2026, holding 16,362 of 30,758 acre-feet.
How full is Champion Creek Reservoir? Champion Creek Reservoir was 45.3 percent full on Nov. 4, 2026, up from 42.6 percent a month earlier, according to Water Data for Texas.
Who is a ranch Broker for Mitchell County? Lee, Lee & Puckitt, a San Angelo-based firm founded in 1962, represents buyers and sellers of ranch and farm land in Mitchell County and across West Texas.
How do I find the best ranch Broker for land near Colorado City? Look for a Broker with closed rural sales in the area, knowledge of water, farm and hunting values, and the ability to back pricing with appraisals or Broker’s Price Opinions.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Lee, Lee & Puckitt has represented Texas landowners since 1962, first from Bronte and since 1977 from San Angelo. The partners are ranchers, and the firm’s Brokers and Agents provide ranch sales, appraisals, Broker’s Price Opinions and support for landowners on issues that affect their property.
Sources
- National Weather Service Midland, Flash Flood Warning for Howard, Mitchell and Scurry counties, Oct. 30, 2026, via Storm Station 24/7: https://stormstation247.com/alerts/2026-kmaf-ff-w-0260
- Water Data for Texas, Lake Colorado City, accessed Nov. 4, 2026: https://www.waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/colorado-city
- Water Data for Texas, Champion Creek Reservoir, accessed Nov. 4, 2026: https://www.waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/champion-creek
- Texas A&M Forest Service burn ban data via BurnBanTexas, Mitchell County, accessed Nov. 4, 2026: https://burnbantexas.com/county/mitchell
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Outdoor Annual, Mitchell County regulations, 2026 to 2027: https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/regs/counties/mitchell
- Texas Real Estate Research Center, Texas Rural Land Markets, Second Quarter 2026: https://trerc.tamu.edu/reports/texas-rural-land-markets-second-quarter-2026/
- Related: West Texas and Hill Country listings, Land appraisals, Nolan County Ranch News: Lake Sweetwater Sits Near 16 Percent After a Wetter October
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_Lake_Colorado_City_State_Park_2023.jpg). Cropped.
