SUBSCRIBE NOW

Enjoy all your local news and sports for less than 6¢ per day.

Subscribe Now

LCRA: Water conservation necessary despite rising lake levels

Lake Buchanan saw significant gains from heavy rains in the spring of 2024, but the Lower Colorado River Authority says water conservation measures into the summer are essential. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey

Spring downpours revitalized Lake Buchanan and greened the Highland Lakes landscape, but the Lower Colorado River Authority is asking residents to continue water conservation efforts into summer. 

The LCRA reduced the drought stage from 2 to 1 on June 3 after the combined storage of lakes Buchanan and Travis rose above 55 percent. This change was automatically triggered by the authority’s drought management plan, but LCRA customers are being asked to voluntarily continue stringent water conservation measures.

“Thanks to rains in May, our water supplies are in better shape than they were a year ago, but lakes Buchanan and Travis are still not full,” LCRA Executive Vice President of Water John Hofmann said in a July 2 media release from the authority. “The lakes remain stressed from years of serious drought, and we all should do our part to conserve and stop water waste.”

The combined storage of Buchanan and Travis was 55 percent as of Tuesday, July 2, up from 50.4 percent in July 2023. The lakes made most of their gains in May, jumping from 42 percent combined storage on May 1 to 56 percent full by June 3.

Stage 2 drought restrictions call for a once-a-week outdoor watering schedule and 20 percent water use reductions. With the change to Stage 1 restrictions, twice-per-week outdoor watering is acceptable with a goal to reduce usage by 10 percent. 

Current LCRA projections show the lakes could drop below 45 percent storage capacity by the end of summer if July and August are particularly dry and hot. The drought stage could be raised to Stage 2 per automatic triggers in the LCRA’s drought management plan.

“As my mother used to say, just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should,” Hofmann said. “So in this case, even though watering may be allowed twice a week, we strongly recommend people stick to watering once a week.”

Hofmann explained in the release that up to 70 percent of municipal water use comes from outdoor watering in the summer months, so cutting back on it can significantly reduce overall water use.

The LCRA is not currently sending water to most of its agricultural customers due to the ongoing drought conditions despite a wet spring. The water will not be made available to them again until at least March 2025. However, up to 16,800 acre-feet of water can still be sent to the Garwood Agricultural Division due to a binding contractual obligation from 1998.

dakota@thepicayune.com

2 thoughts on “LCRA: Water conservation necessary despite rising lake levels

  1. Why am I reminded of the George Strait lyrics, “I’ve got some oceanfront property in Arizona, From my front porch you can see the sea. I’ve got some oceanfront property in Arizona, If you’ll buy that I’ll throw the Golden Gate in free” every single time the LCRA marketing department rolls out another press release, community do-good or John Hofmann opens his mouth?

    If the LCRA were TRULY trying to enhance the quality of life of the Texans they serve through water stewardship, energy and community service as their marketing folks want you to believe, then why aren’t they doing the following:

    1. Making the folks owning property on Inks, LBJ and Lake Marble Falls mirror the 55% full levels of Buchanan and Travis. Can you imagine the water conservation motivation if all of the sudden Inks and LBJ were forced to let water go downstream to the tune of remaining 55% full?
    2. Stop selling water to: a) Rice farmers (has anyone ever eaten any Texas grown rice?)
    b) Shrimp farmers (eaten any Texas grown shrimp?)
    c) Oilfield brine manufacturers (fracking)
    d) Duck hunting ponds (seriously?)
    e) Lord knows who or what else has their SNOUTS stuck down in the water trough compliments of Austin politicians and a few families downstream.
    3. Why can’t the champions of water stewardship and community service get down in the bottom of these dried up lakes and clear out all of the hazards (stumps, silt & trash) like a decent and true “non-profit” would do? Give all of the LCRA non-profit executives an axe, chainsaw, shovel or backhoe and have them clean up and TRULY further enhance the lakes. The lakes are not being enhanced by the LCRA! They are just sitting there. I’ll even pay for their manicures if and when they finish.
    4. Why can’t the LCRA use their dependable Austin political muscle and implement cedar eradication programs all up and down the lake system and inflow creeks?
    5. Why can’t the LCRA use a drone and capture all of the ultra-green lawns along the receding shorelines and either write the homeowners a ticket or put a gauge on THEIR water pumps sucking out of ALL of the lakes????

    You could go on and on.

    The LCRA is a bloated bureaucracy and just like their cousin the PEC, they will cover their tails on the backs of us common folk. In the meantime we are toothless hounds rolling over whenever our masters tell us to. It’s time for an audit before we start following any new orders from the water Nazis!

  2. We have been lucky so far this year with above average rain fall. Since 2000 the Austin area population has more than doubled. This has put a significant strain on water resources. That being said and with only normal rain fall, the lakes can never recover.

Comments are closed.

DailyTrib.com moderates all comments. Comments with profanity, violent or discriminatory language, defamatory statements, or threats will not be allowed. The opinions and views expressed here are those of the person commenting and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DailyTrib.com or Victory Media Marketing.