Lower Colorado River Authority

AUSTIN, Texas – Preliminary 2014 data shows the drought gripping the Highland Lakes is now the most severe drought the region has experienced since construction of the lakes began in the 1930s.

As a direct result of the prolonged record-dry conditions and record-low inflows from the streams and tributaries feeding the Highland Lakes, the “firm yield,” or inventory of water LCRA can provide reliably every year, has been decreased by about 100,000 acre-feet, to 500,000 acre-feet per year. (An acre-foot of water is 325,851 gallons.) Further reductions in firm yield are possible as the drought continues.

LCRA staff provided its revised firm yield estimates in an update to the LCRA Board of Directors during a Water Operations Committee meeting on Feb. 18.

In the presentation, staff reported preliminary data shows the Highland Lakes are now in a new “critical period” marking the driest conditions on record, eclipsing the 1947-57 drought that until now was the worst on record for this region.

“We’re in a historic drought like we’ve never seen in our lifetimes,’’ said Phil Wilson, general manager of the Lower Colorado River Authority. “Based on our preliminary analysis of 2014 data, we are now in a new critical period. As a result, our reliable inventory has been reduced by 100,000 acre-feet a year, to 500,000 acre-feet per year. Even in these conditions, however, lakes Travis and Buchanan remain significantly above their all-time lows, thanks to smart water management decisions and excellent water saving efforts by our customers throughout the lower Colorado River basin.”

The most water used by firm customers in a single year was about 250,000 acre-feet in 2011, far below the estimated 500,000 acre-feet per year firm yield.

Lakes Travis and Buchanan are the primary water supply reservoirs for many cities in Central Texas. On Feb. 18, the lakes stood at about 717,000 acre-feet, or 36 percent of capacity, – almost 100,000 acre-feet higher than the all-time low combined storage of 621,221 acre-feet, or 32 percent or capacity, seen in 1952.

The revised estimate of the firm yield changes the amount of water available for sale in the future, but does not impact existing contracts, such as those held by the City of Austin and other firm customers. Since 2008, the average annual increase in new firm water commitments has been about 350 acre-feet per year.

“LCRA has water available to meet all our existing contracts,” Wilson said. “The good news is the reservoirs are doing what they were designed to do – capturing water when it rains and holding it for use during droughts. At the same time, LCRA continues to aggressively work to expand the region’s water supplies – including building a new reservoir near the Texas coast – to make sure our region has the water it needs for future growth.”

Late last year, LCRA broke ground on the Lane City Reservoir in Wharton County. Once complete in 2017, the reservoir will be capable of adding up to 90,000 acre-feet per year to the water supply.

It’s important to note the firm yield is unrelated to trigger levels in the 2010 Water Management Plan. The state-approved plan, which determines how water is allocated in a drought, sets out three triggers that must be met before the LCRA Board issues a Drought Worse Than Drought of Record (DWDR) declaration. Those triggers are:  24 months since lakes Travis and Buchanan were full.  Prolonged low inflows worse than inflows during the 1947-57 drought.  Combined storage in lakes Travis and Buchanan at less than 600,000 acre-feet. After a DWDR declaration, LCRA would cut off Highland Lakes water for remaining interruptible customers and would impose mandatory across-the-board water use cutbacks of 20 percent for firm customers. Current estimates show the earliest combined storage could hit 600,000 acre-feet is the May-June time frame.

About LCRA The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating, delivering and transmitting electric power; ensuring a clean, reliable water supply; and offering access to nature at more than 40 parks, recreation areas and river access sites along the Texas Colorado River, from the Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to enhancing the life of Texans through water stewardship, energy and community services. LCRA – a nonprofit public service agency created by the Texas Legislature – cannot levy taxes or receive tax money. For more information, visit http://www.lcra.org.