Texas
Lake levels falling fast as Texas drought continues
Lake ranges falling quick as Texas drought continues
Nonetheless loads of water in Lake Travis, however nicely under regular for this time of yr.
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas drought continues and the lakes ranges are falling quick. So are we in peril of seeing situations like within the desert southwest?
As of Tuesday, Lake Travis is about 54 % full. Meaning there’s about 623 thousand acre ft of water in it, or practically 203 billion gallons of water left over within the lake.
Nonetheless loads of water, however nicely under regular for this time of yr. Usually, Lake Travis needs to be about 85 % full.
Meaning Lake Travis is abnormally low, nonetheless, as just lately as 2016 lake ranges have been even decrease, nearer to 40% full. Over the previous 80 years that Lake Travis has been in operation, there have been seven occasions when water ranges have been decrease.
Some, between 2012 and 2015, by no means noticed restoration above 50% full. In order that begs the query, is Lake Travis destined to develop into the following Lake Mead?
In brief, no.
The local weather round Lake Mead is far, a lot drier than Lake Travis. Out within the desert their Colorado River relies on rain and snow that just about solely occurs within the winter. That implies that between Could and October virtually zero rain runs off into the river to replenish the reservoir.
Examine that to Central Texas which will get on common about 2 to three inches of rain throughout our hottest months. Meaning our Colorado River can assist refill the lake even when the climate is the most well liked.
That does not imply that water conservation is not essential in Central Texas.
Our rain is famously erratic and the blazing summer time solar will proceed to work onerous to evaporate as a lot water as potential. However the Gulf of Mexico will at all times present sufficient moisture to finally assist replenish the lakes. To not point out the rain from these enormous spring thunderstorms.
Texas’ better water risk will stay to be depleting aquifers and groundwater across the area. Over extraction and a gentle drying of the western Hill Nation as a result of local weather change will put additional stress on the groundwater provides if cautious measures aren’t adopted to preserve that valuable useful resource.