Published: July 14, 2009 09:43 am      

Drought Report

Worsening conditions prompt weekly reports from GBRA

San Marcos — It's bad and getting worse.

The drought in Central Texas and along the Guadalupe River watershed isn't expected to break for months to come, with flow at some points along the Guadalupe only a fraction of what it traditionally is this time of year.

To help the public stay aware of the conditions, the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA) has begun issuing a weekly Drought Report, citing the value of such information to the "general public, wholesale and retail water users and those who have economic interest" in Canyon Lake or the San Marcos, Blanco or Guadalupe rivers.

Specifically, the report includes measurements from Canyon Lake, San Marcos and Comal springs, the Guadalupe River at Gonzales and Victoria, and points further downstream.

According to the initial report, Canyon Lake has a median level of 909 feet above mean sea level (msl) but was down to 8.95 msl July 12. The lake had been at 896.26 msl on June 14; 895.80 msl on June 21; 895.67 msl on June 28 and 895.27 msl on July 5.

San Marcos Springs was flowing at 89 cubic feet per second (cfs) on July 12 compared to a median flow of 164 cfs. On June 14 the flow was 84 cfs; on June 21, 80 cfs; on June 28, 90 cfs and on July 5, 89 cfs.

Comal Springs are also down, 171 cfs on July 12 compared to a median of 308. at Victoria, the flow is less than 25 percent of median.

Except for a slight chance of a thunderstorm Friday night, no relief's in sight; and according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conditions may not improve until a new El Niño more fully develops.

"NOAA expects this El Niño to continue developing during the next several months, with further strengthening possible. The event is expected to last through winter 2009-10," the agency said in a press release.

"El Niño’s impacts depend on a variety of factors, such as intensity and extent of ocean warming, and the time of year. Contrary to popular belief, not all effects are negative. On the positive side, El Niño can help to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity. In the United States, it typically brings beneficial winter precipitation to the arid Southwest, less wintry weather across the North, and a reduced risk of Florida wildfires," the release said.

Austin weatherman Troy Kimmel said El Niño "creates a more hostile environment" for the development of tropical storms. Still, he noted that the peak months for Atlantic hurricanes is mid-to-late August through September.



To follow changing springflow, visit www.gbra.org.