How dry is it? A July 20 update from the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District reports that the Texas Hill Country has seen six inches less than the average yearly rainfall, with conditions expected to worsen. According to the update, water levels in the Edwards Aquifer began to decline mid-March, and the Trinity quickly followed, with declining levels starting in early April. Looking ahead, La Niña means we can expect continued high heat and low rainfall totals, and the district says that if drought conditions worsen, aquifers could drop below historic lows.
Currently, the region is in Stage 2 Alarm Drought, and the district is encouraging continued conservation, with the understanding that they could enter Stage 3 Critical Drought if conditions continue to worsen. The district has also launched a drought information page that will be frequently updated.