On September 8, 2010 the “remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine” hit Williamson County. Below is the story and pictures of the impact on one Williamson County park. Note that 12 Good Water Chapter Master Naturalists have volunteered over 455 hours at Berry Springs Park, the majority after the flood.
The Great Flood of 2010
By Susan Blackledge,, Berry Springs Park and Preserve Manager
On October 6, 2005 Berry Springs opened its doors for the very first time. Never since that first day 5 years ago had the park ever been closed for any reason. Not until September 8,2010, when over sixteen inches of rain fell on Georgetown and the surrounding areas. The day before at 10 p.m. I closed the park and emptied the rain gauge which measured 3” for the day. In the back of my mind I thought, there is no way it will overflow if I empty it. I awoke to a phone call from fellow coworker, Mark Pettigrew who said he couldn’t get to work because the bridge on CR152 was under water. Sheets of asphalt, broken off curbing, fallen limbs and of course water, made the roads inside and outside of the park impassable. Both Berry Creek and Dry berry creek encircled their swollen banks around the park.
I grabbed my camera and waders and went to get the tractor before it too could be washed away. From the top of the hill, all you saw was fields covered by water. I saw fish swimming upstream on the sidewalks which had waves of water on them. At first I couldn’t cross to go onto the grass to get closer to the pond because of the water current was too strong. I drove the tractor to thee campground and saw bales of hay on the roads and in flower beds. Picnic tables were in trees. Stone Columns were broken in half in the middle of the road. Concreted posts connected by cables were knocked down like dominoes and stretched across the street laden with debris that had washed them away. Sheets of asphalt and road base laid buckled on the park roads.
A huge wave of water flowed over what was once the historical dam that was built in 1846. Barry Chamberlin, the former land owner and park neighbor grew up working and playing on his grandfather’s land which is now the park. He said he had never seen a flood this bad on the property.
The park reopened on Saturday October 2nd after nearly a month of cleaning up after the damages. Many Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists and volunteers spent hundreds of hours putting the park back in order. Special thanks to Mike Harper, Walter and Carol Hoke, Robert Barneby, Valerie Clark, Bonnie Sladek. Pat Hooper, Dee Smith, Winnie Bowen, Gerald Savary, Pat Shirk, Mary Ann Melton, Sterlin Barton, the Georgetown Running Club, Williamson County Community Service Coordinator, Dennis Allman,
Georgetown High School ROTC and all the others who pitched in. On behalf of the Williamson County Parks Department and the citizens who enjoy the park on a regular basis, a special thanks to you all. The park would not have been able to open without your efforts as quickly as it has. There are sections of the park that are still closed such as the campgrounds and most of the granite trails. However, slowly but surely we will resume our daily operations of preserving a natural treasure for all to enjoy. If wanting to volunteer please call the park at 512-930-0040 and/or email sblackledge@wilcol.org .
Our Chapter creates a Cactus Garden at Berry Springs Park.
Unfortunately it was demolished during the flood, but has now been replanted, but a different location.
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