Austin American Statesman article predicting Lake Travis will run dry
10-03-2013, 05:31 PM
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Austin American Statesman article predicting Lake Travis will run dry
Water official: Drought is worst Central Texas has experienced
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5 8 5 52
By Marty Toohey
American-Statesman Staff
Austin water officials said this afternoon that the drought is the worst Central Texas has experienced — worse already than the epic drought of the 1950s — and that as early as next spring the city may need to pursue options such as banning all but hand-held outdoor watering, higher drought rates and even curtailing the use of indoor water.
“This is not your father’s drought, this is not even your grandfather’s drought,” Austin Water Utility Director Greg Meszaros told the City Council. “This is, in my opinion, the worst drought we’ve faced in Central Texas, ever.”
Even with recent rains, lakes Buchanan and Travis, the source of the city’s water, rose only from 31 percent full to 33 percent full. In November they will drop below 31 percent and surpass the final marker to declare this the drought of record, according to forecasts from the Lower Colorado River Authority, which manages the lakes and sells the water to Austin.
For the last two years, Austin has received rainfall amounts close to average. But that rain has not replenished the lakes as much as it used to, due to a combination of parched ground soaking it up and rain simply falling in the wrong places.
The water utility laid out two forecasts, assuming the sort of game-changing conservation measures Meszaros mentioned are not implemented. Under the first, the water utility assumes the record-low inflows into the lakes that happened during 2011 continue. If they do, the lakes go dry in two to three years.
Meszaros said that scenario was unlikely. Under the other scenario, which assumes inflows more in line with the last few years, the lakes approach empty in five to six years. What’s needed, Meszaros said, is a series of intense rains.
In the meantime, he said, the water utility will be beefing up its public-outreach efforts, including taping soon-to-run spots starring country singer Willie Nelson. The city should eventually be willing to pursue nearly any measure, he said, because “there’s no option we will find acceptable where the lakes drop to zero.”
Meszaros is still addressing the council.
COMMENT(1)
5 8 5 52
By Marty Toohey
American-Statesman Staff
Austin water officials said this afternoon that the drought is the worst Central Texas has experienced — worse already than the epic drought of the 1950s — and that as early as next spring the city may need to pursue options such as banning all but hand-held outdoor watering, higher drought rates and even curtailing the use of indoor water.
“This is not your father’s drought, this is not even your grandfather’s drought,” Austin Water Utility Director Greg Meszaros told the City Council. “This is, in my opinion, the worst drought we’ve faced in Central Texas, ever.”
Even with recent rains, lakes Buchanan and Travis, the source of the city’s water, rose only from 31 percent full to 33 percent full. In November they will drop below 31 percent and surpass the final marker to declare this the drought of record, according to forecasts from the Lower Colorado River Authority, which manages the lakes and sells the water to Austin.
For the last two years, Austin has received rainfall amounts close to average. But that rain has not replenished the lakes as much as it used to, due to a combination of parched ground soaking it up and rain simply falling in the wrong places.
The water utility laid out two forecasts, assuming the sort of game-changing conservation measures Meszaros mentioned are not implemented. Under the first, the water utility assumes the record-low inflows into the lakes that happened during 2011 continue. If they do, the lakes go dry in two to three years.
Meszaros said that scenario was unlikely. Under the other scenario, which assumes inflows more in line with the last few years, the lakes approach empty in five to six years. What’s needed, Meszaros said, is a series of intense rains.
In the meantime, he said, the water utility will be beefing up its public-outreach efforts, including taping soon-to-run spots starring country singer Willie Nelson. The city should eventually be willing to pursue nearly any measure, he said, because “there’s no option we will find acceptable where the lakes drop to zero.”
Meszaros is still addressing the council.
10-03-2013, 07:29 PM
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What a bunch of bull****. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM is the fact that the LCRA, in the last 2 yrs, has sent water downstream to rice farmers. Enough water in fact, to feed the city of Austin and surrounding areas for 2-3 additional yrs. It's criminally amusing to hear that rag of a newspaper as well as the local media stray from the absolute truth as to why we're in this dire situation. Yes, we're in a drought. A bad one. But, they're blatant disregard for the population in general in order to give water to those who grow rice should be all over the news. Sadly, it is not. Growing rice in the desert is not such a good idea. More recently, they've justified additional water downstream to "protect inland estuaries." It was said at a recent LCRA board meeting that one of the members made a motion to release additional water because duck season was approaching and his blinds in Matagorda County were dry. The motion passed 13-1.
For those interested, take the time to read the blog at the link below. Pretty much sums it up.
http://withoutapaddleblog.com/2013/0...s-for-fightin/
For those interested, take the time to read the blog at the link below. Pretty much sums it up.
http://withoutapaddleblog.com/2013/0...s-for-fightin/
Last edited by Griswald; 10-03-2013 at 07:32 PM.
10-03-2013, 08:09 PM
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I guess its just a matter of who's making money like everything else. What's interesting to me is that every time they bring up lowering the level of lake Austin people throw a fit and the idea gets shelved. There's no shortage of money on the shores of Travis, seems like the guys who own those houses would have at least a little pull...
I don't know what the flood gate schedule is, but my hoa has a park on lake Austin close to Mansfield and I've spent 2-3 days a week or so every week this summer on that lake. More often than not there is a strong enough current there to make putting a boat on a trailer quite a chore. They're dumping LOTS of water.
I don't know what the flood gate schedule is, but my hoa has a park on lake Austin close to Mansfield and I've spent 2-3 days a week or so every week this summer on that lake. More often than not there is a strong enough current there to make putting a boat on a trailer quite a chore. They're dumping LOTS of water.
Last edited by Crossett; 10-03-2013 at 08:16 PM.
10-03-2013, 09:03 PM
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ALL the water for the city of Austin comes from Lake Travis.. The chances of them letting the lake go dry and cutting off the only supply of water to millions of residents and the capitol
of Texas is zero to none..and yes the LCRA are a bunch of money grubbing azzwipes but even they are not that stupid...
of Texas is zero to none..and yes the LCRA are a bunch of money grubbing azzwipes but even they are not that stupid...
10-03-2013, 09:35 PM
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drought = premium on water = the lcra sells that **** downstream
lake travis water levels be damned
*edit*
and WTF OSO, aren't we all adults here? I can't say "s h i t" without you censoring it? Jesus christ.....
lake travis water levels be damned
*edit*
and WTF OSO, aren't we all adults here? I can't say "s h i t" without you censoring it? Jesus christ.....
Last edited by Crossett; 10-03-2013 at 09:38 PM.
10-03-2013, 09:36 PM
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I wish you didn't have a point man!
It sucks thinking about my boat at the shop right now...then asking myself the question: Do I leave it on the trailer or put it on the lift, potentially having a hell of a time getting it back out?
It sucks thinking about my boat at the shop right now...then asking myself the question: Do I leave it on the trailer or put it on the lift, potentially having a hell of a time getting it back out?
11-17-2013, 01:13 PM
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looks like selling mine is getting to be a better idea more and more everyday. Sucks the politics involved with the lively hood of a whole city, a city the size of Austin thats growing by the thousands every month. I love austin, i was born and raised here (goodluck finding many other people that can claim that) and without travis, its hard to think about staying if I want to continue to boat.....
11-22-2013, 04:49 PM
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Although not published as Lake Travis and Austin were, Canyon Lake where I boat is largely down resultant of the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority acting like LCRA and sending water downstream! The minute it sprinkles, the gates open and water is released in fear of a 2002 repeat flood event. A group pulled together with Legal and all called "friends of canyon lake" made it all the way to Austin only to be dismissed from the courtroom for "no longer being parties of interest". All that could be said is, "the lake was not made for recreation, rather for ag and irrigation". So, never mind all the homes on the lake, the tourism, or the lake's presence that sustains local's livelihood.
I bang my head on the wall every time I think about it......
I bang my head on the wall every time I think about it......
12-06-2013, 03:26 PM
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Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. They are getting ready to suck our Lake Conroe as dry as they need to, and I quote "to provide adequate water to maintain landscapes for The Woodlands residents in time of drought". You should see the 5' diameter "transmission lines".
We have also tried to put a stop to further lake lowering. The answer? "The city of Houston owns 2/3 the water rights in Lake Conroe. It was built as a water supply lake, not for recreation."
http://www.sanjacintoriverauthority....nes/index.html
We have also tried to put a stop to further lake lowering. The answer? "The city of Houston owns 2/3 the water rights in Lake Conroe. It was built as a water supply lake, not for recreation."
http://www.sanjacintoriverauthority....nes/index.html
