We've been below the Stage II drought trigger point since June and appeared to be on track for Stage III. The rain caused a spike, but with runoff accelerated by the arid ground, that may be short-lived.
This chart from the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District resources page shows the flow of water in Barton Springs over the past five years
So, how about that rain, huh? Mother Nature set another record Monday, with up to 4 inches of rain at places in Austin and Travis County, but as you already knew in your heart of hearts , it may have been more than the proverbial drop in the bucket, but it wasn't enough to reverse a drop in the Hill Country's wells and springs and aquifers, or to come close to pulling Central Texas out of our current drought.
How bad is it? Wells all across Central Texas have seen levels drop well past the alarm stage and approach the critical stage we haven't seen in recent summers. Jacob's Well in Wimberley stopped flowing on July 27, for the first time since 2013, and has recorded zero average daily flow on about half of the days since then, according to data on the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.
What can we do about it? On the individual level there's a lot, of course. The BS/EACD recommends a list of water-saving tips from the Texas Water Development Board, and you've probably seen a lot of these things before – things like turning the faucet off earlier, watering plants and yards more frugally, or taking shorter showers – but they do really make a difference that you can measure month to month in your utility bill.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Don’t lose sight of monkeypox containmentAlthough case counts might be dropping, the public-health community must focus on containing the epidemic completely.
Read more »
Here’s why your electricity bill will likely go up $5 a month, starting todayThe Public Utility Commission-approved adjustment on delivery charges typically rises in the fall and drops in the spring.
Read more »
Survey shows parent dissatisfaction with Boston Public SchoolsIn the poll, conducted for the Shah Family Foundation, only 29% of public school parents said they were “very satisfied” with Boston’s schools, a drop from 41% a year ago.
Read more »
Nationals’ Meneses delivers gut-wrenching loss to Oakland A’sMLB: Washington Nationals score four runs in the bottom of the 10th inning off Norge Ruiz to hand Oakland A’s a 7-5 loss
Read more »
Jordan Peele Says There's More Story to Tell in His 'Nope' UniverseThe famed director said he's noticed fans are 'doing a lot of interesting detective work.'
Read more »
US life expectancy sharply drops again amid COVID-19 pandemicMales had a more pronounced drop in life expectancy compared to females, and while COVID was a factor, other issues contributed to the drop.
Read more »