High temperatures, low rainfall and persistent sunshine are what Texas is known for, but this is just ridiculous.
is drying up at a rate of one foot each week and has already been marked at 23 feet below average for the month of June.
From October 2010 to May 2011, rainfall reached only 38 percent of
the normal regional average. Not only that, but the region has faced
record daily temperatures from March through May. Water flowing into
Lake Travis cannot keep up with high evaporation rates due to extreme
heat and public use.
The end result is that scattered sandbars and barren islands are
beginning to spring up, leaving rocks and other obstacles which were
submerged in nearly 25 feet of water just one year ago peaking over
shallow waves. Only two public boat ramps remain usable.
The Lower Colorado River Authority has already asked water users to implement voluntary water restrictions. This is one of the first stages under the Drought Contingency Plan
elements of its water management plan, designed to guarantee that LCRA
can meet water needs for all its customers. If conditions persist, and
they probably will, more restrictions will be imposed.
Even though some rainfall is expected this week, breathing easy
is still not an option. It seems that it would take something just short
of a biblical flood to redeem the lake. If officials can't get a handle
on the water crisis, the only thing to splash around in this summer
will be more sweat and tears.
Don't let Austin's summer go down the drain. Conserve water like the lake depended on it. After all, it does.
