The state tracks water levels at 109 of its 175 major water supply reservoirs and found that by the end of September, they were below 60 percent capacity -- the lowest level since 1978
In the meantime, Texas had its hottest summer ever recorded with an 86.8-degree average, which Nielsen-Gammon called a statistical tie with Oklahoma for the hottest in U.S. history.Update: GBRA Gen Mgr Bill West tells the committee there is presently no water flow into Canyon Lake although the water supply is still in "pretty good" shape. Curtailments to customers will start at the end of the year if the drought persists. If the drought continues into 2012, the Guadalupe River basin will experience a new drought of record and Canyon Lake will drop below 50% of storage.
Note: The Texas House Committee on Natural Resources began a public hearing on the drought this morning. LCRA's meteorologist Bob Rose testified the drought could last well into 2012. Other testimony: "At least for the next ten years we are going to see more dry years than wet years." Live stream broadcast of the hearing can be seen at this link: http://www.house.state.tx.us/video-audio/
Reprinted from Business Week
Published Tuesday Nov. 1, 2011
By Will Weissert/AP
Read the complete story
The historic drought punishing Texas has forced about a fifth of the state's water systems to ask or compel customers to follow water restrictions, while leaving 23 systems with either unknown supply levels or within six months of completely running out, a top expert told state senators Tuesday.
Carlos Rubinstein, one of three commissioners of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, testified before the Senate Natural Resources Committee that 91 percent of the state is now facing extreme or exceptional drought conditions and 956 public water systems have imposed voluntary or mandatory restrictions on water use. His commission lists 4,721 total community water systems across Texas.
Rubinstein said 55 of those have prohibited all outside watering and at least 23 are in such dire straits that officials can't determine the state of their water stocks, or believe they are within 180 days of drying up.
1 comment:
"Carlos Rubinstein, one of three commissioners of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, testified before the Senate Natural Resources Committee that 91 percent of the state is now facing extreme or exceptional drought conditions..."
What is this? TCEQ trying to scare the public into turning over their water needs to crony private companies that pay off the TCEQ regulators to rubber stamp their rate increases and new water infrastructure projects?
Even though what TCEQ is saying is true about the drought, just remember: They are lying to you in some way.
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