End of May Aquifer Update

Barton Springs had reached it's peak and is starting to decline in flow. Current flow is about 88 cfs (90 cfs 10-day average). The Lovelady well is still rising but the ascent is slowing and is currently at 136.8 ft depth to water.

May Aquifer Update

Drought Status: Non-drought conditions
Barton Springs Flow: 92 cfs (92 cfs 10-day average)
Lovelady: 138.8 ft depth to water

Hot and Dry Summer Predicted

While that is no surprise to anyone (and even I could predict that), meteorologists are predicting a shift away from the wetter (El Nino) conditions to a slightly drier-than-normal summer.

"The rains are expected to subside as the El Niño effect so dominant in the Pacific Ocean gives way to a La Niña effect, which typically leads to drier weather in Texas."

Click here for a story by Asher Price of the Austin-American Statesman.

Aquifer Update
Drought Status: Non-drought
Lovelady Well: 140.6 ft depth to water (well above the average of 153 ft)
Barton Springs: 93 cfs (also well above the average of ~53 cfs)

Aquifer Update

Drought Status: Non-drought
Lovelady Well: 144.07 ft depth to water (well above the average of 153 ft)
Barton Springs: 92 cfs (also well above the average of ~53 cfs)

Aquifer Update

Non-drought Conditions
Barton Springs Flow: 89 cfs (10-day average)
Lovelady depth to water: 148.1 ft

Currently, the aquifer is experiencing high springflow and water levels due to the above-average rainfall and recharge we’ve received since September 2009.

The end of the drought was brought about by some substantial rainfall in the fall of 2009 and then persistent above-average rainfall for the past 6 months (Figure 2). The above-average rainfall is related to the onset of El Niño conditions. El Niño conditions generally produce above-average rainfall for Texas, while La Niña conditions usually produce drier-than-normal conditions for Texas. The El Niño-La Niña cycles result from changes in the global moisture patterns related to ocean temperatures fluctuations in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. El Niño began to develop in the summer of 2009. Substantial storms of up to 10 inches began to fall in September 2009 and helped saturate the extremely dry ground, and prime the area for the subsequent above-average rains resulting in runoff and ultimately recharge to the aquifer.

The short-term forecast is very good. The Climate Prediction Center indicates that El Niño conditions are expected to continue through the spring 2010. However, current models indicate a possible weakening and possibly entry into neutral or La Niña conditions late in the summer 2010.

Lovelady water level rises above long-term average

BSEACD Drought Status: Non-drought
Barton Springs Flow: 88 cfs 10-day average
Lovelady Index Well: 151.6 ft (this is about 1.5 feet above the long-term average depth to water of 153 ft)

All of Texas out of Drought Conditions, first time since 2007

BSEACD Drought Status: Non-drought
Barton Springs Flow: 88 cfs 10-day average
Lovelady Index Well: 156.6 ft

The US Drought Monitor indicates that all of Texas is out of drought conditions.

Rains continue to improve conditions

No Drought Status
Barton Springs: 83.5 cfs 10-day average
Lovelady Well: 162.2 ft depth to water

We've had above-average rainfall of about 5.8 inches so far this year. Onion Creek is flowing and recharge is occurring at the District's recharge enhancement project at Antioch Cave.

Recharge is also occurring at many other features--this feature, called a swallet, pictured below was recently discovered and is located in a small drainage.

Conditions continue to improve

Barton Springs Flow: 77 cfs
Lovelady Monitor Well: 166.9 ft depth to water (and rising)