Two pieces of news landed on Schleicher County ranches this October, and both matter for anyone who runs livestock around Eldorado. The National Weather Service in San Angelo put the county under a Flood Watch from Thursday into Friday afternoon, and earlier in the month the Texas Animal Health Commission listed Schleicher County among those with a screwworm release order dated Oct. 13. Lee, Lee & Puckitt, the San Angelo ranch Broker that has worked this part of the Edwards Plateau since 1962, put together this summary for landowners.
What the Flood Watch Called For
The watch, issued at 10:47 a.m. on Oct. 29, covered Schleicher along with Crockett, Irion, Kimble and Sutton counties through 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Forecasters said 2 to 4 inches of rain were likely across the area, with isolated totals of 6 inches or more possible. Eldorado was named among the places under the watch, and the zone forecast for Friday carried a near 100 percent chance of showers with highs in the mid 60s.
Totals like that do two things on a Schleicher County place. They fill tanks and wake up winter forage, and they can also take out water gaps, cut ranch roads and push livestock toward the wrong side of a draw. The watch was the ninth areal flood watch from the San Angelo office this year.
Checking the Place After the Rain
Once the water drops, the practical list is short:
- Ride water gaps and fence corners in every draw before turning cattle, sheep or goats back into a pasture.
- Look over low water crossings on ranch roads before driving them.
- Note how each tank caught water. A good rain is the best time to see which dirt tanks need cleaning out or a new spillway.
- Photograph any damage with a date stamp for insurance or assistance programs.
Where Screwworm Stands for Schleicher County
The Texas Animal Health Commission keeps a running page on New World screwworm response in Texas. On that page, Schleicher County carries a release order dated Oct. 13, meaning the county is no longer held under the earlier movement and inspection requirements that applied to it. Edwards County was released the same day. Crockett County, which borders Schleicher on the west, was still listed in the current zone when we checked.
For Eldorado-area producers, that is welcome news, but it is not a reason to stop watching. Warm, wet weather after a big rain is exactly when flies and fresh wounds line up. Keep checking newborns, recently worked animals and any wound on livestock, wildlife or pets, and report suspicious cases to the commission or a veterinarian.
Why It Matters for Land Values
Water and animal health are two of the first questions buyers ask about a Schleicher County ranch. A place that holds water after a rain like this one, with working tanks and sound water gaps, shows well. A clean animal health picture in the county helps sellers too, since it removes one more question from a buyer’s list.
Talk With a Ranch Broker
If you own land in Schleicher County and are thinking about what it is worth, or you are looking to buy on the western Edwards Plateau, call Lee, Lee & Puckitt at 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com. Our Brokers and Agents are ranchers themselves and can walk a place with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much rain was forecast for Schleicher County this week? The National Weather Service Flood Watch called for 2 to 4 inches across the area, with isolated amounts of 6 inches or more possible, through Friday afternoon, Oct. 30.
Is Schleicher County still under screwworm restrictions? The Texas Animal Health Commission lists a release order for Schleicher County dated Oct. 13, 2026. Check the commission’s screwworm page for the latest status before moving livestock.
What should ranchers check after heavy rain? Water gaps, fence corners in draws, ranch road crossings and stock tanks, plus any wounds on livestock that could attract flies.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Lee, Lee & Puckitt has sold farm and ranch land in West Texas since 1962, starting in Bronte and working out of San Angelo since 1977. The firm lists ranches across Texas and New Mexico and also provides land appraisals.
Sources
- National Weather Service San Angelo, Flood Watch FA.A.0009, issued Oct. 29, 2026, and Schleicher County zone forecast, Oct. 30, 2026
- Texas Animal Health Commission, New World screwworm response page, accessed Oct. 2026
- Related: West Texas and Hill Country listings, Land appraisals
Photo: Aualliso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schleicher_County_courthouse_May_2020.jpg). Cropped.
