Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across the Hill Country, Central Texas and the coastal plains region during October. With limited rain in what is typically the one of the wettest months of the year, the drought expanded in size and intensity. Weather and drought factoids:
- Most areas received less than half the normal October rain;
- September was one of the driest on record;
- This the 6th driest year on record for Austin (year to date rainfall was 14.95 inches through October 31);
- Driest year since 1963 when only 14.31 inches was recorded through October;
- Year to date inflows into the Highland Lakes have been less than inflows over the same period in 2006, which were the lowest on record since 1942;
- A large part of Central Texas and the eastern Hill Country has only received 25 to 50 percent of normal rain;
Much of our watershed is currently in moderate to severe stages of drought, as indicated in the U.S. Drought Monitor prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Year to date, rainfall has been well below normal across the entire region, with most locations receiving between 50 and 75 percent of the normal amount of rain. Drought conditions developed in May and June of this year when there was very little rain and unusually hot temperatures. These two months are typically the wettest of the entire year.
Area streamflows are very low to dry and year-to-date rainfall totals are generally 8 to 12 inches below normal. However, in the worst drought areas in Central Texas, rain totals are now running between 12 and 20 inches below normal. As of November 4, the level of Lake Buchanan is about 5.5 feet below the historic November average. The level of Lake Travis is about 11.5 feet below the historic average for November.
Has it been this dry before?
Yes. Our region has encountered more severe droughts, including the decade-long Drought of Record of the 1940s and ’50s. More recently, the lower Colorado River basin underwent severe droughts in the mid-1980s, 1996, 1999-2000 and 2005-2006. See historic lake levels.
What will it take to refill the lakes and end the drought?
Lots of rain – more than scattered showers. Lack of rain means the land and vegetation are dry, creating a potential fire hazard in many places. It also means fewer inflows into the major tributaries that feed the Colorado River system, including the Highland Lakes. Only a series of heavy storms over the Hill Country, producing several inches of rain, will resaturate the soils and refill lakes Travis and Buchanan.
Inflows to the Highland Lakes for the year are less than 30 percent of average. For the month of June, inflows were about 8 percent of their average. For July, inflows were about 6 percent of their average. Without significant rainfall, both lakes will continue to drop in elevation.
Recreation on the Highland Lakes will be impacted by the decline in elevations. As lake levels continue to drop, gaining boat access to the Highland Lakes through a boat ramp at an LCRA park becomes more difficult. View the latest Boat Ramp information and learn what the minimum lake levels are for launching boats onto the Highland Lakes.
Why does LCRA continue making releases from the Highland Lakes when it isn’t raining?
A major reason why LCRA built lakes Travis and Buchanan was to provide the lower Colorado River basin with a reliable source of water, especially during periods of drought. The releases serve a variety of customers throughout the basin, such as communities (including the City of Austin), industry (including electric power plants) and agriculture. LCRA's state-approved plan for the operation of the Highland Lakes includes requirements to provide water for river habitat and water quality along the lower river and for the health and productivity of Matagorda Bay. During periods of drought, when LCRA must release more water than the rains are replenishing, the levels of Travis and Buchanan will drop. Even so, the lakes are performing their intended jobs of providing the basin with a reliable source of water.
LCRA follows a state-approved plan to manage the region's water supply
LCRA’s Water Management Plan is approved by the state and is designed to ensure a dependable source of water for LCRA water customers even during the worst drought on record. The plan calls for curtailment (or reduction) of water supplies to interruptible customers and reducing releases for environmental needs when the amount of water in lakes Travis and Buchanan drop below certain levels, or ”trigger points.” LCRA has successfully managed water resources during previous droughts and floods.
The latest from Bob Rose, LCRA Chief Meteorologist
Weather trends and long-range weather forecasts indicate a drier than normal pattern will likely persist this fall and winter. In the tropical Pacific, water temperatures are slightly below normal, indicative of a neutral pattern. However, there are indications these waters will continue cooling and a weak La Nina may develop in the next month or two. La Nina patterns often cause drier than normal weather across most of Texas in the fall and winter months. Some rain will fall from time to time over the next couple of months, but rain totals are not expected to be heavy enough to have a significant impact on the ongoing drought.
The persistent dry weather has caused most area springs and streams to dry up or slow to a trickle. Jacob’s Well, a well-known area spring in Hays County, stopped flowing in October. This is only the second time in modern history the spring has stopped flowing. Barton Springs in Austin is still flowing but its output is near record low output. More weather information is available at Bob Rose's weather blog.
How to save water
Since 1999, LCRA has adopted a Water Conservation Plan that provides for water conservation to be a part of normal, day-to-day water use. Learn more about these water saving tips.
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