Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Stage III Critical Drought Declared

Drought Status: Stage III Critical Drought
Lovelady Monitor Well: 462.52 ft-msl
Barton Springs: 26 cfs  (approximate 10-day average)

Stage III Critical drought was declared today by the District's GM. At last weeks meeting, the Board of Directors gave the GM authority to declare Stage III drought after the water level in the Lovelady monitor well did not rise above 462.7 ft-msl in a two day period. Manual measurements by staff and logged continuous water level data confirm that in fact, water level has not risen beyond that level during the last 48 hours. 

The District uses two drought indicators, Barton Springs and Lovelady monitor well.  Barton Springs is much more susceptible to spikes in discharge induced by rainfall causing instantaneous and 10-day average flow there after the recent rains to be non-representative of the status of the aquifer. However only one of the drought triggers needs to pass a drought threshold for a change in drought stage to be declared.

Stage III drought entails a 30% curtailment in the amount of water permitees are allowed to pump.

You can now follow the BSEACD on Facebook and Twitter.

No comments: