Barton Springs Enters Severe Drought

Barton Springs Enters Historic Drought -- Last Thursday the Directors of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District declared a Stage 4 "Exceptional Drought" for the first time in 36 years of the District's history.   This drought declaration requires Edwards Aquifer wells regulated by the District -- including water supply wells for Buda and Kyle--to reduce pumping by 40% starting on Christmas Eve.  The Exceptional Drought is triggered by low aquifer levels that translate to Barton Springs flows dropping below 14 cubic feet per second (cfs).  By comparison, in the official worst "drought of record" that occurred in the 1950s, Barton Springs estimated flows dropped to 9 cfs.

It's time for all of us to save water! Our Highland Lakes storage is 58% empty.  Yet LCRA continues to sell more water.  And the Austin Water Utility has done too little to encourage reduced water use, much less require reductions by business and residential customers like those required by the Barton Springs District.  Please do your part now.  We'll have more soon on what the greater Austin community must do to keep our springs and rivers flowing now and into the future.  ​

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