Alarm Drought Declared

Drought Status: Alarm

• Barton Springs = 29 cfs (10-day avg)
• Lovelady Well = 178.8 feet

Other Drought Indicators:

• Manchaca Rainfall (year to date, as of 6/23) = 8.1 inches, nearly a 9 inch deficit for 2008
• U.S. Drought Monitor indicates "extreme 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," despite the fact that La Nina conditions appear to be weakening.

Alarm Stage Drought requires a reduction of 20% of normal monthly water usage by permit holders. We further ask all who use groundwater to conserve water to help maintain water levels and springflow.

Alarm Drought Imminent

Drought Status: NO DROUGHT (but likely to be declared at the next Board Meeting on Monday 6/23/08)
Barton Springs = 28 cfs (10-day avg is 30 cfs)*
Lovelady Well = 178.3 feet

Manchaca Rainfall (year to date, as of 6/20) = 8.1 inches

U.S. Drought Monitor indicates "extreme 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," despite the fact that La Nina conditions appear to be weakening.

*recent Barton Springs field measurements were lower than previously reported by the USGS automated gauge and website, prompting a revision of data and the apparent drop of springflow from our previous drought reports over the past few weeks.

Current Conditions 6/12/08

Drought Status: NO DROUGHT
Barton Springs = 40 cfs (10-day avg is 41 cfs)*
Lovelady Well = 177.1 feet

We are estimating entry into Alarm Stage Drought no later than the first week of July.

Manchaca Rainfall (year to date, as of 6/12) = 8.1 inches

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

U.S. Seasonal Outlook indicates our area is within a region mapped as "some improvement" due to the fact that La Nina conditions appear to be weakening.

*recent field measurements by the District and City of Austin indicate Barton Springs discharge may actually be lower than currently reported, we are awaiting verification and revisions to the spring discharge by the USGS.