LCRA opts to interrupt agricultural customers again

For the second year in a row, the Lower Colorado River Authority has determined that no Highland Lakes water will be made available for most LCRA agricultural customers in Colorado, Wharton and Matagorda counties. No lake water will be available for customers in the Gulf Coast, Lakeside and Pierce Ranch agricultural operations this year based on the ongoing drought and amount of water in lakes Buchanan and Travis on March 1. Under the state-approved Water Management Plan that guides LCRA, the current water supply constitutes an “extraordinary drought” with the two reservoirs currently at about 42 percent of capacity. “This is a reflection of the serious drought we’re in,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of water, in a statement to the press. “Texas has gotten some significant rain over the last few months, but it hasn’t been in the right areas to benefit Lake Buchanan or Lake Travis. The Water Management Plan requires us to take this step to help ensure we can continue to meet the water needs of cities and industries throughout the region.” The water authority serves both firm and interruptible water customers. Firm customers are municipalities, water districts and other customers that can purchase water no matter the drought conditions. Interruptible customers, like the ones cut off on March 2, are agricultural customers in the lower basin. More information about LCRA’s drought response can be found here.