After rains, LCRA downgrades drought

Recent rainfall has had a positive impact on the region’s water supply, as evidenced by the Lower Colorado River Authority’s recent declaration that we have moved from Stage 2 to Stage 1 of its drought response. On May 1, lakes Buchanan and Travis were at 42 percent  capacity. As of yesterday, that has increased to about 56 percent capacity, or more than 1.11 million acre-feet of water. At this stage, LCRA asks that water customers reduce water use by 10 percent. Firm water customers (like businesses and municipalities) are asked to impose water restrictions. Under the separate metric of Austin Water’s watering restrictions, the city is currently in Stage 2. “We encourage everyone to cut back water use when possible,” John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of water, said in a statement to the press. “We’re heading into another hot, dry summer when the amount of water in lakes Buchanan and Travis typically drops because of increased water use and evaporation.” If the lakes reach 1.2 million acre-feet (which is 60 percent capacity) LCRA will exit Stage 1.