August 13, 2012
The combined total amount of water in storage in the Lake Corpus Christi/Choke Canyon Reservoir System dropped below 50% in mid-June -- the lowest level since 2001. Combined lake levels have been headed down at a pretty steady clip since mid-2010. By mid-August the combined level was at 44.5% after two years of little rainfall in the watershed.
Dropping below 50% triggers the Drought Contingency Plan adopted by the City of Corpus Christi as the regional water system manager. That means that every residential, commercial and industrial customer in the San Patricio Municipal Water District service area is being asked to voluntarily step up their ongoing water conservation efforts.
Late winter and spring rains near the coast helped boost the lake level at Lake Texana dramatically and it has been at greater than 84% capacity since March 14.
Overall rainfall this year in the Nueces River watershed feeding Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon slowed but did not reverse the downward slide of lake levels that started in mid-2010. The region has now in that period of the year when rainfall is scarce and evaporation from the lakes on most days is substantially greater than the amount of water diverted for municipal and industrial use.
Warm temperatures and high winds have dried out vegetation and area counties have reimpose burn bans as was common during the great 2011 Texas Drought.
AVOID LAWN WATERING AT MID-DAY
The Drought Contengency Plan calls on water providers in the region to encourage voluntary conservation by their customers. Specifically customers are being asked to avoid lawn watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The goal is to achieve at least a 1% reduction in demand in each local water system.
If the combined total lake levels drop below 40% then all regional communities will be asked to restrict mid-day lawn watering on a mandatory basis. The target at that point will be to achieve at least a 5% reduction in demand from each water system.
The Water District provides water to cities and rural water providers on a wholesale basis. The District has asked these water providers to take every opportunity to encourage your residential and commercial customers to step up their voluntary efforts to use our water supply wisely.
You can get ideas on steps you can take to conserve water HERE on this website.
