No Drought
Lovelady: 492.1 ft-msl
Barton Springs: approximately 92
cfs 10-day average
Groundwater levels continue to rise thanks to the overall rainy
conditions experienced in March. Many area streams that flow over the recharge
zone of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards aquifer have seen several
periods of prolonged flow, thus providing a relatively steady input to the groundwater
supply. Except for one week in December, Barton Creek has been flowing since
late November 2014. According to the USGS Onion creek gauge near Driftwood, TX,
flow in the creek has not dropped below 20 cfs since the end of December. As it
flows east over the Barton Springs Edwards aquifer recharge zone, Onion creek
steadily loses water to the aquifer via fractures and karst features located in
the creek bed, and by the time it gets to the eastern edge of the recharge zone, has lost all of its water to the aquifer.
Despite the overall good conditions in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards aquifer, it is important to remember that other parts of the state are still under severe drought and the we are very much at the mercy of where and when the rain falls. For instance, many of the lakes in the Highland lake system are far below their full capacity and the Edwards Aquifer Authority has a drought declaration in place.
