PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (TX) TX WSC Drought Update

Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:06:04 EDT

Summary: Texas has recently received widespread rains which is helping to relieve the effects of the ongoing drought. For example, the City of San Angelo's water supply approximately doubled from about a 1-year supply to a 22-month supply of available water.

Event Information:
On October 16, 2012, the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that drought conditions still persist throughout much of the state, though conditions are improving-–parts of east and west TX are not in drought status (17.1%), whereas 82.9% of TX is experiencing conditions ranging from abnormally dry (20.4%), moderate (31.2%), severe (15.5%), extreme (12.6%), to exceptional (3.2%, in parts of north and south TX).

Hydrologic Conditions:
According to USGS WaterWatch on October 22, of 435 real-time stations where flow is measured, 81 have zero flow and another 76 have flows of less than 1 cfs. Many stations in Texas have very low to no flows during summer months or in west TX; however, a number of these stations are affected by the current drought. According to the drought table, there are 2 stations (08456300 Las Moras Spgs at Bracketville, TX and 08437710 Pecos Rv at RR 1776 nr Grandfalls, TX) with less than 30 years of record that have new record low flows for 7-day average flow conditions.

Stream and Reservoir Gages:

Staff are planning to move the gage at 07233550 (Palo Dur Res nr Spearman, TX) to the dam area as present location is high and dry after several orifice extensions in the past.

Staff are planning to move the gage at 07312180 (Lk Electra nr Electra, TX) several hundred yards due to low water levels.
Groundwater Levels: Routine measurements are being made.

Water Quality: Routine measurements are being made.

Special Project: Nothing new to report.

Communication and Outreach:

USGS data cited: http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2012/oct/12/current-lake-levels-and-water-consumption-report/

USGS has been invited to attend a West Texas Drought Outlook and Assessment Forum that is hosted by the West Texas Council of Governments and is sponsored by NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), National Climatic Data Center, and National Weather Service.






Sub-Region: Central South; Region: Central United States