Southwest Austin - Dripping Springs Edition | April 2025

From the cover

Persistent drought impacting Dripping Springs businesses, agriculture

Drought explained

small pores and how deep it is below the surface, he said. Even if the region does get rain, the rainfall only ows down into recharge zones, such as creek beds, after the soil and plants have absorbed as much water as they can, Flatten said. As of March 31, U.S. Drought Monitor ocials are predicting the drought will persist this summer, meaning less possibility of recharge opportunities for the aquifer, impacting long-term availability.

residents not on city utilities have to use wells, which get water from local underground aquifers. These local aquifers rely on being relled, or recharged, through rainfall, meaning long periods of drought can impact how much water is in the aquifer and, therefore, how much is available for use, said Charlie Flatten, general manager of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District. The Lower Trinity Aquifer, which serves Dripping Springs, has a slower recharge rate because of its

Both Travis County and Hays County have been under drought conditions for the past three to six years. As of press time, most of Travis and Hays County are in Stage 3, extreme drought conditions. Some areas of Hays County, including western Dripping Springs, are under Stage 4, the most extreme drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Residents that are on municipal services get their water from the Highland Lakes in Austin, but

Drought conditions None Abnormally dry • Grass ires increase • Surface water levels decline Moderate drought

Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs

360

78749

MOPAC

78735

78620

• Wildire frequency increases • Voluntary water restrictions Severe drought • Mandatory water restrictions • Pasture conditions poor • Wildire danger is severe Extreme drought • Increased risk of large wildires • Decreased yields for irrigated crops

78736

78745

290

78748

78737

78739

Exceptional drought • Cull cattle; liquidate herds • Widespread crop loss

SOURCE: U.S. DROUGHT MONITORCOMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: DROUGHT CONDITIONS ARE AS OF APRIL 21.

Local perspective

Joe Kanetzky, a longhorn cattle rancher in Drip- ping Springs, said he’s accustomed to adapting to long droughts. He said he adapts by ensuring he has enough native grasses, better suited for the drier climate, for his cattle to graze on. His 270-acre ranch oper- ates as a “grass factory” for his cattle, meaning fatter, better-selling cattle. Persistent drought can lead to issues with feed, such as grass and hay availability. With less feed available, that means reducing herd sizes because of increased costs for alternative feed and water sources, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA monthly data reports also show the cattle market becoming more expensive for

both ranchers and consumers. Kanetzky said he had to drop his well down further in the aquifer about 10 years ago as more development came to his neighborhood. If he needs more water, he will have to redrill into the aquifer, he said. Driftwood brewery Vista Brewing relies on their well to operate their business, from creating their brews to ordering a glass of water, CEO Kent Killough said. Major water availability concerns haven’t been an issue, but as the business and area grows, Killough has to consider how lower aquifer levels will impact his business. “Two or three years [from now], if we’re in the same weather pattern … then it will be 911, and in

Joe Kanetzky said he’s used to dry periods, but a prolonged lack of rainfall can impact his grass yield.

order for our business to be sustainable, I have to be able to address that as it happens or in advance of it happening,” he said.

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