Posted: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:50 AM - 15,256 Readers

By: Steve Alberts

For the first time in more than a decade the entire state of Texas is under drought conditions.

From high above one can see the toll the drought is taking on Lake Travis.

On Thursday Four Islands, as they are called, are visible.

Sean Faubion works on the lake as a boat technician.

“They popped up quick," Faubion said. "They shouldn't be here yet."

He says he usually does not see the islands this time of year.

“This lake is low and if we don’t get rain soon, this lake is just going to get lower,” said Faubion. “The ramps are going to go dry again. We’re not going to be able to put boats on the lake.”

Lake Travis is slightly under 660 feet, some 46 feet higher than the lowest it has ever been.
The all-time low was 614. That happened in 1951, and was part of what is called the "drought of record for Central Texas."

Mark Jordan is in charge of the LCRA's River Management.  He has seen very little water flowing into the Highland Lakes that help supply our reservoirs.

“They are now at levels lower than what we saw during the drought of record,” explained Jordan.

Both Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan are the main sources of drinking water for Austin.  Even with lake levels dropping, Jordan says there is still sufficient water to meet the critical needs of cities and industries.

If we do not get rain and lake levels continue to drop, the LCRA would ask its customers to take voluntary actions to reduce their water use by five percent. That could happen in the next three weeks.

“We are not in a trouble zone; we are more in a cautious zone,” Jordan said.

Back on Lake Travis, Sean Faubion prays for rain as the lake grows smaller by the day.