Thursday, June 27, 2013

Barton Springs Close to its Stage III Drought Threshold

Stage III Critical Drought
Barton Springs: 22.1 cfs (10-day average)
Lovelady monitor well: 460.4 ft-msl

District staff measured flow at Barton Springs today to be 18 cfs making the 10-day average flow 22.1 cfs.
Barton Springs flow is steadily dropping from the spike in discharge caused by the big rains at the end of May. Due to sporadic rain and Barton Springs' quick response to precipitation, discharge at the springs has not dropped below its Stage III drought threshold of 20 cfs 10-day average. Unless it rains soon, it is likely that flow will drop below the 20 cfs mark in the coming week or two.

Stage III drought declaration was made on April 17, 2013 after the water level elevation in Lovelady monitor well, the District's other drought trigger, dropped below 462.7 ft-msl.

The US Drought Monitor rates the drought in central Texas as "severe to extreme."

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Thursday, June 13, 2013

Lovelady Steadily Declining

Stage III Critical Drought
Barton Springs: 23.8 cfs (10-day average)
Lovelady: 460.9 ft-msl

Stage III critical drought was declared on April 17, 2013 when the water level elevation in the Lovelady monitor well dropped below its drought threshold of 462.7 ft-msl. As of June 13, 2013 the water elevation in Lovelady monitor well is at 460.9 ft-msl continuing its gradual descent deeper into drought.

Since the declaration of Stage III drought, discharge at Barton Springs has not dropped below its drought threshold of 20 cfs. This is due to its nature of being very susceptible to spikes in its discharge from small rain events not large enough or rapid enough in succession to produce significant recharge to the aquifer.

Only one of the two drought indicators needs to pass a drought threshold for drought stage declaration to made.

Rains in May were only 0.1 inches below historic average, according to District rain gauges, and helped chip away at the rainfall deficit accrued since the declaration of drought in November (Stage II), putting the total at -6.6 inches.

The US Seasonal Drought Outlook shows ongoing drought fro central Texas with "some improvement'"

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