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."

Current Conditions 3/12/2008

Drought Status: NO DROUGHT
Barton Springs = 55 cfs (10-day avg is 56 cfs)
Lovelady Well = 158.5 feet

Manchaca Rainfall (year to date, as of 3/12) = 2.81 inches

U.S. Drought Monitor indicates "moderate to severe drought" 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."

Spring 2008 Weather Forecast

Bob Rose of the LCRA released a forecast for the Spring 2008 and is paraphrased below:

"A developing drought looks to be the dominant weather story this spring across Central Texas. The latest forecast data indicates a moderate-to-strong La Nina pattern in the Pacific will likely persist into summer, causing drier than normal weather conditions across much of Texas. With the storm track staying primarily to our north, warm air will most often win out over the cold, limiting the periods of cold weather.

While cold fronts will still push into Texas throughout spring, it appears most of them will be fairly weak. Warm, almost summer-like temperatures look to make an early appearance this year. Readings in the 90s may begin showing up by April.

Rain is expected to be below normal through most of spring. Many of the cold fronts will come through with little or no rain. Even though rainfall will be below normal, I still expect a fairly active period of severe storms during April and May."

Current Conditions 2/14/8

Drought Status: NO DROUGHT
Barton Springs = 62 cfs (10-day avg is 63 cfs)
Lovelady Well = 149.8 feet

Manchaca Rainfall (year to date, as of 2/14) = 0.75 inches

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

U.S. Seasonal Outlook indicates our area is within a region mapped as "moderate drought."

1/24/2008

Drought Status: NO DROUGHT
Barton Springs = 58 cfs (10-day avg is 59 cfs) NOTE: SPRING FLOW DATA HAS BEEN REVISED SINCE THIS WAS POSTED

Lovelady Well = 142.5 feet

Manchaca Rainfall (year to date) = 0.71 inches

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

U.S. Seasonal Outlook indicates our area is bordering on "drought development is likely" and "drought to persist or intensify."

1/14/2008 Conditions

Drought Status: NO DROUGHT
Barton Springs = 60 cfs (10-day avg is 63 cfs)
Lovelady Well = 139.5 feet

U.S. Drought Monitor indicates "abnormally dry" conditions

U.S. Seasonal Outlook indicates "drought development is likely"