LOW IN THE INFLOW In ows into Lake Travis have lowered substantially in recent years, even though average rainfall has remained similar to past trends. One acre-foot equals 325,851 gallons of water, and here is a look at recent in ow into the lake in acre-feet. 80,385 51,890 12,370 Since 1942 February average 2008-15 February average February 2022
TURNING UP THE HEAT
Drought occurs when there is less-than-average rainfall for an area over a certain period of time. Megadrought occurs when a drought lasts longer than two decades. Projections show Texas could experience a megadrought in its future, with higher average temperatures and more 100-degree days compared with current levels.
48.8 days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit by mid-21st century*
+34 days ≥ 100 degrees Fahrenheit by mid-21st century*
103.6 degrees Fahrenheit average mid-century summer temperature*
+3.9 degrees Fahrenheit higher annual average 7-day temperature
*PROJECTED
SOURCE: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
acre-feet
acre-feet
acre-feet
Total annual rainfall
“We’re talking about something I don’t think any- body saw coming,” Clark said. “And there’s nothing you can do about it except battle through it one day at a time.” Clark lost ve businesses as a result of the drought: Carlos n’ Charlies, Cafe Blue, Sandy Creek Marina, U Float Em and North Shore Marina. He laid o nearly 350 employees and lost roughly 70% in revenue. Lake Travis is a signi cant economic engine, gen- erating $207.2 million in revenue for state and local governments, $3.6 million in hotel and mixed bev- erage taxes and $45.2 million in sales tax from com- mercial businesses annually, according to the Lake Travis Coalition. When Lake Travis is low, people nd other places to go, Clark said. To protect his livelihood, Clark said he has in years since worked to diversify his revenue streams by opening businesses not reliant on water levels. In times of drought, the businesses operating at full capacity can o set those impacted by low lake lev- els, he said. He has also tried to make his businesses more resilient by growing his on-land customer base at his existing lakeside ventures. “It’s going to hurt, and it’s going to leave a mark, but it’s not necessarily going to be devastating,” Clark said. “We just kind of go through life hoping In 2011, nearly 50% of available water in Lake Tra- vis was released downstream to irrigators for farm- ing, according to the CTWC. After 2011, the LCRA put a system in place to prevent water being sent downstream to irrigators when needed for use by cities. The problem with this system is that Austin is good at conserving water, which makes it appear that there is more water available than there really is, Tedder said. One acre-foot is equal to 325,851 gallons of water. to dodge bullets.” Mitigating drought
The combined storage of these two lakes is about 2 million acre-feet when full. As of May, the com- bined storage of both reservoirs was at 72% capacity, according to the LCRA. To prevent the overestimation of upstream water resources, the CTWC recommends the LCRA imple- ment a “safe yield” system that would keep enough water needed to sustain cities in the upper basin for at least a year. The LCRA declined to comment for this story but released a statement that the plan in place is designed to maintain enough supplies for municipal water use even during the worst drought the region has seen. In addition to improved conservation e orts, it is also important to increase wild re preparedness, said Will Boettner, Travis County wild re mitigation o cer. For western Travis County, the abundant greenery presents ample opportunity for a wild re during a drought. Western Travis County has few re hydrants, so most re trucks use water from attached tanks, Boettner said. During a drought when water levels in Lake Travis are lower, water pressures may be too low or water may become unavailable. “That’s why we’ve become much more proac- tive with trying to prevent res from ever getting started,” he said. While the future of the drought in Central Texas remains uncertain, it is key to keep looking ahead, Tedder said. “It’s hard to get the word out and educate people about what’s really happening,” Tedder said. “You need to be doing your hard planning when there is plenty of water, because when you’re in a drought, it’s too late.”
48.98 48.94
2008
2010 2009 2011
38.2
drought begins
32.75
41.06
2012
44.75
2013
Memorial Day weekend ooding
35.9
2014
77.37
2015
56.68
2016
48.69
2017 2018 2020 2019 2021
58.65
45.93
52.6
46.81
0
10 20
30
40
50 60
70
Inches
Falling short Texas received a D- grade in its drought preparedness from States at Risk, a project that evaluates climate change preparedness. For both drought and wild res, the state does not:
conduct vulnerability assessments
plan for adaptation
implement resilience e orts
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
SOURCES: LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, STATES AT RISK COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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