Water Level Roller Coaster

Stage II Alarm Drought
Lovelady monitor well: 4687.7 ft-msl
Barton Springs discharge: 35 cfs 10-day average

Over the last few months both discharge at Barton Springs and water level at Lovelady monitor well, the District's to drought trigger sites, have experienced brief two rises due to the timing of precipitation events this summer that were large enough to generate recharge to the aquifer (see figure below). Currently, with fall well underway, water level in the aquifer is on the decline, while the Climate Prediction Center, expects El Niño conditions to develop in the next month or two, potentially bringing above average rainfall to central Texas.

El Niño Development Likely in Fall and Winter

Stage II Alarm Drought
Lovelady Monitor well: 469.88 ft-msl
Barton Springs: 35 cfs

In a statement released on October 9, The Climate Prediction Center reported that El Niño conditions are likely to begin in the next 1 to 2 months. Generally speaking, El Niño conditions mean more rain for central Texas. So far this month the district rain gauge has collected just over 1 inch of precipitation of the 3.3 inch historic average. The water level in the Lovelady monitor well has experienced something of a rollercoaster of ups and downs as a result of the timing and magnitude of storms this summer see image below.