When the Waters Rose: A Call to Reconnect with Our Soil in Kerr County

Our hearts go out to the families and communities of Kerr County, Texas, who recently endured devastating floods. The loss of life, homes, and livelihoods is a tragedy that reaches far beyond county lines. As recovery efforts are underway, it’s important we not only rebuild but also reflect on how to prepare for the next storm. Because floods of this scale are no longer rare events—they are reminders of the fragile relationship between land, water, and people.

A Storm of Historic Proportion

This storm was staggering. Rainfall rates reached up to 4 inches per hour in places, unloading an estimated 120 billion gallons of water on Kerr County—twice the volume of Niagara Falls in a single day. The economic toll is already being tallied north of $18 billion, which breaks down to about $25,406 per acre across the county’s 708,480 acres. These numbers feel overwhelming—it’s money that no community truly has—and the most sobering reality is this won’t be the last devastating storm. Extreme weather events are on the rise across the country, destroying lives and quietly bankrupting us. But disasters of this magnitude are as much about land management as they are about weather.

The Hidden Factor Beneath Our Feet

What if more of that water could have soaked into the ground where it fell rather than racing across the landscape and into the rivers? The key lies in soil health. Two centuries ago, much of Kerr County was covered in vibrant grasslands with soil organic matter averaging 3–5%. Today, after years of ecological shifts toward juniper woodlands and desertification, organic matter has dwindled to just 1–2% in many areas.

That drop may sound small, but the consequences are enormous. For every 1% increase in soil organic matter, an acre of soil can hold an additional 25,000 gallons of water. Across Kerr County, the decline represents a lost storage capacity of nearly 35 billion gallons of water. That’s water that could have reduced flash flooding, nourished aquifers, and lessened the storm’s economic and human toll.

Rainwater can go one of two places: down into the ground or across it. Think of organic matter like a sponge. When soils are rich and alive, they behave like giant sponges, soaking up rainfall and holding it in reserve. But when soils are depleted, they act more like a sheet of pavement—shedding water quickly, leaving floods downstream and parched land once the storm has passed.

The Economic Case for Soil Health

The financial stakes of ignoring soil health are staggering. Kerr County’s floods brought an estimated $18 billion in damages. Yet the loss of organic matter over the past two centuries has quietly stripped the land of its natural ability to buffer such storms. Restoring even a modest 1% of organic matter across the county’s soils would add 17.7 billion gallons of storage capacity—enough to offset nearly 15% of the storm’s rainfall. Put another way, that could translate into more than $2.6 billion in avoided damages in a single event. A 2% gain could double that benefit, reducing losses by more than $5 billion. This is natural infrastructure that functions with every storm!

These are rough numbers but not abstract numbers. They show that soil regeneration is not just an ecological goal but sound economic policy—cheaper, faster, and longer-lasting than building new reservoirs or flood walls. In a county where floods now carry a per-acre bill higher than the cost of restoring soil health on that same acre, the economics point to a clear solution: invest in the ground beneath our feet.

Grasslands as Natural Infrastructure

Healthy grassland soils can infiltrate more than 4 inches of water per hour, nearly the exact rate of the storm’s downpour. Imagine the difference if more of Kerr County’s soils still functioned at their natural potential. Instead of rushing unchecked into creeks and rivers, much of that rainfall could have been absorbed right where it landed. This wouldn’t have stopped the devastation of the storm, but it would have softened the impact—saving lives, preserving property, and reducing long-term costs.

This doesn’t mean we abandon engineered flood defenses—levees, reservoirs, and drainage systems are vital. But these projects are enormously expensive to build and maintain. In contrast, restoring soil health costs far less than $25,406 per acre, can be put in place much faster, and carries with it countless additional benefits that are indiscriminately shared with every member of the community. 

Takeaway

The Kerr County floods highlight more than the fury of nature; they reveal the cost of forgetting the quiet services healthy soils provide. By rebuilding soil, we create a natural defense system that works in tandem with human infrastructure. It’s not just about preventing the next flood—it’s about creating landscapes that are more resilient, productive, and nourishing for generations to come.