This picture should hopefully remind you about our need to conserve water, especially here in Texas and in the Southwest.
And here is a map showing you that conditions don't seem to be improving.
To learn more, go to http://watrnews.com/2013/03/drought-covers-85-percent-of-texas-59-in-severe-drought/#.UVCl0hcw38g
This drought is still set to go for at least another year. However, we are better off than 2 years ago, but slightly behind last year. I'm in Williamson county and have about 10 acres under my management. We've lost many trees and are likely to lose more - most of which are species that have invaded from East Texas.
ReplyDeleteI expect that we'll eventually have a drought breaking rain that will fill the reservoirs but it's the consistent monthly rain that stops droughts.
It seems like last week I was having to go to work in my truck because the creek was 8in over the road on a regular basis.
I really think that we are in a long dry cycle. Probably like the 50's were here in Texas. We might have some years with rain (like last year) but they will be few and far between for the next while. I am no meteorologist, or anything of an expert. That is just my random prediction from looking at data.
DeleteIf I am right, it will be very hard on the aquifers, streams, rivers, lakes, farmers, ranchers, and the even those down at the coast.
If I am wrong, then great! But we still need to conserve water!!!
Yes we do. Last year I installed a full water reclaimation system on my house just to water my garden. I have a well, but if it goes dry then what? I live so far out in the country it would cost thousands to have water trucked in.
ReplyDeleteMy brother lives in Australia near Brisbane. Every house there is required to have a water reclaimation system. With all the nanny laws we are instigating here, why can't we do some super practical ones like a law that all new single-family dwellings have to have a water reclaimation system?
Most people don't realize but a large portion of Texas has a limited water table. We *can't* pump water like Phoenix or Las Vegas where pumps are down in excess of 5,000ft. Our fresh water acquifer ends at 900ft and then it switches to salt water. There were areas in Williamson County last year where the drawn-down from the cities was near the salt water level.
If we pump the fresh water layer dry........
I would not be opposed to requiring all new construction to have some type of water reclamation or recycling system in place.
DeleteSo this rain has helped us a lot, though at my house we didn't get that much. The Colorado river valley got a lot of rain this time though. Actually saw an improvement on the LCRA lake levels page.
ReplyDeleteWe received some rain...not enough. Glad to hear the Colorado River got some!
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