Posted: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:10 AM - 10,887 Readers

By: Natalie Stoll

Despite today's rain, LCRA officials are now saying this drought's intensity is worse than the record drought in the 1950's.

The difference: it's just not as long. Yet.

LCRA officials say that without more significant rain, Lake Travis could fall another 13 feet by the end of the year.

Without rain, Lake Buchanan could fall another 13 feet by January first. That would be near its all-time lowest level.

While the LCRA says this is not a crisis, they do expect to require customers to implement mandatory water restrictions next month. Mandatory restrictions go in place when the lakes reach a trigger point of 900,000 acre feet.

The restrictions include the City of Austin.

"Many of the springs have gone dry," said LCRA meterologist Bob Rose. "Some are running at record low flows. Our lakes are at levels we haven't seen in 25 years."

"This is a really serious drought," Rose said. "People need to start conserving the water that we have."

The LCRA is already asking customers to voluntarily restrict water use, by limiting their outdoor watering to no more than two days a week. In Austin, that's already mandatory.