Current Conditions 5/7/8

Drought Status: NO DROUGHT
Barton Springs = 48 cfs (10-day avg is 52 cfs)
Lovelady Well = 170.4 feet

Unless we get significant rains, we are estimating entry into Alarm Stage Drought as soon as early to mid June. See May 5th blog entry below.

Manchaca Rainfall (year to date, as of 5/7) = 6.8 inches

U.S. Drought Monitor indicates "abnormally dry" conditions (note, this is a meteorological drought index).

U.S. Seasonal Outlook indicates our area is within a region mapped as "Drought ongoing, some improvement"

Summer weather 2008: Drier, warmer weather predicted the next few months

from Bob Rose, LCRA Meteorologist

Click here for the full article.

"It’s often said that Central Texas weather is one long drought interrupted by occasional floods. While this description often seems true, in reality, each year’s weather is often very different than the previous year.

In 2007, persistent, heavy rains characterized spring and summer weather. There were numerous floods and for the first time in 10 years, all of Texas was declared drought-free. But the wet weather didn’t last long. By late 2007, rain had become scarce and in 2008, drought returned to a large part of Texas, including the Hill Country and most of Central Texas. This summer, much drier weather than last year is expected.

The return of drier than normal weather can be attributed in part to the development of a weather phenomenon known as La Niña. In a La Niña, the Jet Stream is pushed north of its normal position and replaced by a large area of stable high pressure. This high pressure area limits the number of storms crossing our region, resulting in lower than normal rain. A weak La Nina will continue into the summer, which should result in drier than normal weather from late spring into summer. But keep in mind the weather won’t be totally dry. The month of May is typically the stormiest and wettest of the entire year and we’re likely to see a few storms from time to time. Temperatures this spring and summer are shaping up to be very warm, much warmer than they were last summer. Look for readings to hit the upper 90s to 100 degrees beginning in June."

Water Conservation Period begins on May 1st.

For all groundwater users within the BSEACD, May 1^st marks the beginning of our Water Conservation Period. This is not to be confused with an official drought declaration but is actually a calendar driven period from May to September of every year to recognize the time when water demand goes up and natural rainfall amounts go done.

During this period, the District requests that all BSEACD permittees and groundwater users be mindful of your water use and conserve wherever possible. Recommended steps for achieving the voluntary 10% water use reductions are outlined in permittee Drought Contingency Plans.

What day can I water my lawn ?!?!?!?!

Very soon we anticipate that many of our permittees will be getting frantic phone calls with questions like this from many of its end user water customers. The confusion is coming from the switch from a 5-day watering schedule to a 2/week watering schedule that the City of Austin has recently implemented and that will go into affect on May 1^st.

The BSEACD feels very strongly that a 5-day watering schedule is more than sufficient to maintain most lawns and has been a schedule that most regional water customers have grown accustomed to for some time. Nonetheless, the switch was made so we all need to be prepared to help remedy this initial confusion.

Please do your part to inform all your water customers that the District will continue to maintain the 5/day watering schedule for all District groundwater users.

Current Conditions 4/24/08

Drought Status: NO DROUGHT
Barton Springs = 46 cfs (10-day avg is 47 cfs)
Lovelady Well = 168.8 feet

Unless we get significant rains, we are estimating entry into Alarm Stage Drought in early to mid June.

Manchaca Rainfall (year to date, as of 4/24) = 4.9 inches

U.S. Drought Monitor indicates "abnormally dry" conditions (note, this is a meteorological drought index).

U.S. Seasonal Outlook indicates our area is within a region mapped as "Drought ongoing, some improvement"

Current Conditions 4/10/8

Drought Status: NO DROUGHT
Barton Springs = 50 cfs (10-day avg is 51 cfs)
Lovelady Well = 165.3 feet

Manchaca Rainfall (year to date, as of 4/10) = 3.7 inches

U.S. Drought Monitor indicates "abnormally dry" conditions (note, this is a meteorological drought index).

U.S. Seasonal Outlook indicates our area is within a region mapped as "Drought to persist or intensify."

Current conditions 3/26/08

Drought Status: NO DROUGHT
Barton Springs = 53 cfs (10-day avg is 55 cfs)
Lovelady Well = 162.3 feet

Manchaca Rainfall (year to date, as of 3/26) = 3.4 inches

U.S. Drought Monitor indicates "abnormally dry" conditions (note, this is a meteorological drought index).

U.S. Seasonal Outlook indicates our area is within a region mapped as "Drought to persist or intensify."